Eliud Kipchoge, the renowned Kenyan marathon runner, has revealed in an interview his desire to add to his legacy at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. Over the years, Kipchoge has established himself as one of the best marathoners in history, having won two Olympic gold medals, the world record, and numerous major marathon victories.
While his goal is to break the two-hour barrier in the marathon, Kipchoge has made it clear that his top priority at the moment is the Olympics, seeking to win for a third time on that stage. Other challenges, such as winning the Boston and New York marathons, will be left for later.
Winning gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics would have special symbolic value for Kipchoge, as it was in that city that he won his first international crown at the world 5,000m championships in 2003, at the age of 18.
Despite his sixth-place finish at the Boston Marathon, Kipchoge is not discouraged and is focused on the future. Although he acknowledges that he had hamstring problems during the race, he has put that challenge behind him and is looking forward to competing again in Boston next year.
As for his schedule for the rest of 2023, Kipchoge is in the midst of training and is considering participating in the Berlin, Chicago, and New York marathons. He will make a final decision on which one he will run for by the end of July.
Kipchoge continues his rigorous training program in Kaptagat, Kenya, where he runs about 200 kilometers per week on red dirt roads at an altitude of 2,400 meters. Among his training partners are prominent athletes such as Faith Kipyegon and Geoffrey Kamworor.
In addition, Kipchoge advocates for rigorous anti-doping testing in Kenyan athletics and stresses the importance of transparency and accountability in the fight against doping. He believes that testing is essential to identify those who work with athletes in the country and prevent illegal practices.