Eliud Kipchoge Announces New York Marathon as Final Race

Former double Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge announced that the New York Marathon on Sunday will be his final race. The 41-year-old Kenyan runner boasts an impressive record with 16 victories in 23 competitive marathons, including 11 wins at major marathon events.

Eliud Kipchoge’s Marathon Legacy

Kipchoge is recognized as one of the most decorated marathon athletes in history. This includes:

• Four wins at the London Marathon, the highest for any male athlete
• Five victories at the Berlin Marathon, where he set two world records in 2018 (2:01:39) and 2022 (2:01:09)
• Victories in major marathons held in Tokyo and Chicago

With his New York debut, Kipchoge will complete the prestigious seven-star marathon set, having previously raced and won in the other six major cities. He remarked that running in New York has been on his mind for a long time as he prepares to embark on a new journey.

Future Plans Beyond Marathon Running

Looking ahead, Kipchoge expressed interest in participating in extreme races, including a marathon in Antarctica. He shared his desire to tackle challenges that push his limits and inspire others.

Aside from marathons, Kipchoge aims to contribute to the sport in new ways. He was recently elected to Kenya’s national Olympic committee as the men’s athlete representative. He is dedicated to providing motivation and guidance to future generations, although he stated that he would not compete anymore.

Historic Milestones

Kipchoge is renowned not just for his marathon wins but also for his remarkable achievements:

• Completed the Olympic marathon in 2016 (Rio de Janeiro) and 2021 (Tokyo), becoming the first man to defend the Olympic marathon title since 1980.
• Attempted to secure a third consecutive Olympic title in Paris 2024 but had to drop out due to injury during the race.
• Famed for breaking the two-hour marathon barrier in Vienna in 2019, with a time of 1:59:40, though this was not recognized as a world record according to official regulations.

This year marks Kipchoge’s first instance of racing more than two marathons within a single year since transitioning to road racing in 2012. He finished sixth in the London Marathon in April with a time of 2:05:25 and ninth in Sydney in August, clocking in at 2:08:31. His career reflects a remarkable legacy as one of the greatest marathoners of his generation.