Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge has broken his silence after an underwhelming performance at the London Marathon on Sunday, April 27, where he finished in sixth place.
In a statement hours after completing the marathon, Kipchoge exhibited characteristic grace and optimism, as he hinted that he would continue racing in marathons, despite being in the twilight years of his career.
"In sport, as in life, not every attempt turns into victory, but each one brings meaning," he said.
Despite failing to secure a podium finish, 40-year-old Kipchoge, who won the London marathon in 2019, said he was leaving London feeling motivated, happy, and hungry for the challenges ahead.
Kipchoge, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest marathon runners of all time, also thanked fans for their support along the course, calling the London Marathon and its passionate supporters "the biggest place in my heart".
"Thank you for all your cheers on the course," he added. "This race and these fans have the biggest place in my heart."
Despite Kipchoge falling short at the London marathon, Sebastian Sawe, who holds the fifth-fastest marathon time in history, won the race emphatically with a time of 2:02:28 in his second 42 km marathon ever.
By the time he crossed the finish line, 29-year-old Sawe clocked an impressive 2:02:26. Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda came in second with a time of 2:03:37, while Alexander Mutiso Munyao came in third with a time of 2:04:20.
For Kipchoge, his sixth-place finish was not only uncharacteristic; it also carried hints of the end of an era for an individual who is considered the greatest ever to grace a marathon.
The 40-year-old claimed a respectable Ksh971,000 (USD 7,500), which was the allocated prize money for a sixth-place finisher. This is excluding a reported appearance fee in the region of KSh19.4 million (USD150,000).
What's next for Kipchoge? While there are speculations that Kipchoge could step away from long-distance races, the legend is showing no signs of relenting, and his latest statement proved he still had more left in his tank. His next major race will be in August 2025, when he takes part in the Sydney Marathon in Australia.
The Sydney Marathon will certainly have a new winner after the 2024 champion, Brimin Kipkorir, was slapped with a ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after he tested positive for prohibited substances.
In a comprehensive statement released on Tuesday, April 1, the AIU announced it had upheld an initial sanction placed on the 35-year-old, following positive tests for erythropoietin and furosemide.
