Two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge has spoken following his performance at the Paris Olympics.
Kipchoge withdrew from the men’s 10,000-meter race just after the 30km mark, where he was in 71st place, trailing by more than eight minutes.
The 39-year-old said that the marathon race on Saturday, August 10, was one of the worst performances of his sports career.
“This is my worst marathon. I have never done a DNF (did not finish). That’s life. Like a boxer, I have been knocked down, I have won, I have come second, eighth, 10th, fifth – now I did not finish. That’s life,” he said.
When asked if he would attempt another Olympic race at Los Angeles 2028, Kipchoge responded, “You will see me in a different way, maybe giving people motivation, but I will not run.”
“I don’t know what’s next. I need to go back [home], sit down, and reflect on my 21 years of running at a high level. I need to evolve and pursue other things.”
In the leading group after 19 kilometers, Kipchoge fell back, showing visible signs of discomfort as he clutched the left side of his stomach and upper hip.
Kipchoge Drops Off the Race
In videos seen by The Kenya Times, Kipchoge, while in the crowd, handed over his shoes, bib, and socks to supporters, receiving a rapturous reception.
Kipchoge, the double Olympic marathon champion, sat in the 63rd place after the first 25km.
Also Read: Eliud Kipchoge Suffers Defeat as Kenya Falls Short of Marathon Gold
He was aiming for his third gold medal at the Olympics after winning in Rio in 2016 and at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
“I want to go into history books, to be the first human being to win back-to-back-to-back,” Kipchoge said at a past interview.
New Record Breakers
Ethiopian Tamirat Tola delivered a masterclass to win the Olympic men’s marathon in Paris by clocking an Olympic record time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 26 seconds to secure the victory.
He dethroned Kipchoge who was the defending champion in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and ended his ambitious attempt at a third consecutive win.
The Kenyan marathon legend no longer holds the world record over 26.2 miles (42.195km), as his mark was bettered by the late Kelvin Kiptum last October.
Bashir Abdi of Belgium upgraded his Tokyo 2020 bronze to Paris silver at a person best of 2:06:47.
Benson Kipruto who went to Paris as the fastest among all athletes in the race has secured a bronze medal after finishing third in 2:07:00.
Also Read: Prominent Kenyan Star Athletes Who Have Won Gold at Past Olympics
The race, which started at the Hôtel de Ville and ended on the Esplanade des Invalides, was Kipchoge’s 21st official marathon excluding the two-time trials in Monza and Vienna.
The route included a 436m climb and 438m descent. The maximum gradient on the route was 13.5 percent.
Previous Marathon losses
Kipchoge finished second at the 2013 Berlin Marathon and 8th at the 2020 London Marathon, his first loss in seven years.
He was sixth at the 2023 Boston Marathon and 10th at his last run at the 2024 Tokyo Marathon. Berlin Marathon titles: Kipchoge won the Berlin race in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2023.
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