Olympic champion and marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge has smashed several records and made Kenya proud including setting and breaking his own world records.
There is however a team of professionals and confidants who work strategically and tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that he is in the right shape to prove that no human is limited.
Kipchoge relies on this team for support and guidance during and after competitions and during training.
His longtime squad of five includes the following:
Manager - Valentijn Trouw
Trouw is a Dutchman who has been managing Kipchoge for the past 16 years.
He is entrusted with leading the performance team and ensuring that the Champion stays fit and healthy.
The manager who has been leading other athletes for decades works under the leadership of former long-distance runner Jos Hermens.
When Trouw is not handing over water bottles, he is cycling alongside Kipchoge, cheering him on and making sure he runs within the set split times.
Coach and mentor- Patrick Sang
Since he was 16 years old, Kipchoge has been under the mentorship and training of Sang.
Speaking at a past interview with INEOS, Sang narrated that as a young man, Kipchoge was adamant to grow under his wings.
After approaching him several times, he decided to train him alongside other athletes building their bond into a stronger and more trustworthy relationship
“I gave him a two-week training program and off he went. He came back two weeks later and asked ‘What’s next?’ and that’s where it all began.
"He has given me that trust and it's a big mandate. In itself, it's a challenge because you have to think and go the extra mile not to disappoint,” Sang stated.
Sang is the founder of a training camp in Kaptagat where he trains Kipchoge alongside other athletes.
The bottle man - Claus Henning Schulke
Claus, a 56-year-old German, first met Kipchoge in 2018 in the lobby of a hotel and trained the passing of the water bottle using a flower vase with him.
Kipchoge entrusted Claus, who had been working as a volunteer at the Berlin Marathon for 25 years with passing water to him during the race.
“The day after the race, Eliud’s management called me and told me to go to the hotel. There his coach, Patrick Sang, came to me and told me that I had been a part of the world record.
“At that moment, I recognised for the first time what my role was in this game,” he stated in an interview with NN Running Team.
Claus was later called upon by Kipchoge’s team to assist in passing the water and he accepted.
“There is a box with 40 bottles at every water station and you have to find Eliud’s bottle. Then you have to find your position at the aid station.
“Then I have another 20 seconds until he arrives. It’s always action, action and I like this very much. The best time is when he really grabs the bottle, and drinks and gets support from this,” he added.
Physiotherapist - Peter Nduhiu
Nduhiu has been the champion's long-time support staff working with him since the 2003 World Championships in Paris.
He has accompanied national teams and star athletes to various top events around the world and is tasked with overseeing more than 20 athletes.
Speaking to Olimpics.com, he stated that he believed that the record holder has remained relatively injury-free because of his character and physical fitness.
"My role in Eliud's sporting life is to make sure that I minimize the risk of injury, put in place programs and systems that can minimize the risk of injury," he noted.
Nutritionist -Armand Bettonviel
The nutrition expert ensures that Kipchoge has the right diet in preparation for competitions and stays healthy.
He stated in an interview with Olimpic.com that his biggest challenge working with Kipchoge was designing a drinking plan for his sub-two-hour run in Vienna, and ensuring the diet was ‘right for optimal metabolism’.
He stated that the champion has to follow a strict diet in order to deliver his best performance.
