Kenyan marathon runner and double Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge has addressed questions about his retirement plans ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Kipchoge was speaking in Paris, France on Thursday, April 11, 2024, during a soft launch event of the 2024 Nike Olympic kit.
The marathon great said that the idea of retirement has not crossed his mind yet, adding that he expects to make history with his third consecutive Olympic marathon gold medal at this year’s sporting showdown.
“My huge expectation actually is to win the Olympics for the third time. If you can convince me that the moment, I will be crossing the finishing line the whole world has become a running world then I will retire,” said Kipchoge.
Eliud turns 40 in November and recently recorded one of his worst performances when he finished 10th at the Tokyo Marathon in March.
However, he retaliated that the result and his relatively vintage age has not made him doubt his chances in Paris.
Kipchoge on Tokyo loss
“I think I just got tired … I don’t know what happened but it’s life, its sport, it’s the beauty of sport,” he added.
The marathon sensation further reiterated his commitment to trying to inspire people of all levels to keep on the move.
Also Read: Eliud Kipchoge Breaks Silence After Losing Tokyo Marathon
While responding to a question on whether he could race at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, Kipchoge said that he was focusing on one competition at a time.
“You know in Kenya, we say you don’t chase two rabbits at a time, you will miss all of them. You chase one. So the rabbit of the Olympic Games is what I’m chasing now. After that I go back to the drawing board, see what’s in my bucket list and start again to chase the next,” Kipchoge explained.
East Germany’s Waldemar Cierpinski and Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikila join Kipchoge as the only athletes to have won two marathon Olympic gold medals when they retained their titles.
In his crowning achievement, Kipchoge became the first person to cover the 42.2km marathon distance in under two hours in Vienna at the INEOS Challenge though the record was unofficial.
He shattered barriers by completing a marathon in an astonishing 1:59:06n time, marking the first sub-two-hour marathon in history.
Additionally, Kipchoge holds the record for the most wins at the Berlin Marathon which he has won in five editions including his latest one in September 2023.
Paris 2024 Olympics
The Paris 2024 Olympics promise not only a battle for gold but a spectacle that will etch itself into the rich tapestry of marathon history.
Kipchoge was named among a list of marathon runners set to represent the country in a shortlist by Athletics Kenya.
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Athletics Kenya released its marathon shortlist for Paris last week featuring some popular names including Kipchoge, Benson Kipruto and Timothy Kiplagat, and defending women’s marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir alongside Brigid Kosgei and Hellen Obiri.
The Kenyan runners will be looking forward to capitalizing on a landmark move announced by World Athletics on April 10, 2024, that saw the introduction of prize money in the Olympic Games.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe in a statement announced that athletes who will win gold medals in Paris will earn $50,000 (Ksh6.5million) each.
At the same time, World Athletics noted that silver and bronze medalists would be receiving prize money from LA 2028 onwards.
Kipchoge, however, while acknowledging the move maintained that his participation in races is not fueled by money but by the urge to perform.
He added, “It was a great idea for Seb Coe and World Athletics … for the young generations I think it’s a good idea to develop – it makes sport more interesting.”
