World record marathon holder Kelvin Kiptum has challenged legendary athlete Eliud Kipchoge to face him at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Kiptum, on Tuesday, however, stated that the battle would only be possible if he qualifies for next year's Olympics edition.
“I’m looking forward to competing with Eliud if I get selected to represent Kenya at the coming Olympics. Am ready to race with him,” Kiptum stated while addressing the media in Nairobi.
The 23-year-old Kenyan broke Kipchoge's 42km marathon record by clocking 2:00:35 at the Chicago Marathon. Kipchoge set the previous world record at the 2022 Berlin Marathon, clocking 2:01:09.
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Athletic experts, enthusiasts and stakeholders predict that one of the duo may be the first human to break the sub-two-hour marathon under standard race conditions officially.
Kipchoge achieved the fete unofficially when he crossed the line in a history-making time of 1:59:40:2 at the Ineos 1:59 challenge in Viena, Austria, in 2019.
Overall, he has won 15 out of 18 marathons, only losing three times - a 2nd-place finish behind Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich at the 2013 Berlin Marathon, where Kipsang, an 8th-place finish at the 2020 London Marathon and a 6th place in his debut at the Boston Marathon in 2023.
Kipchoge transitioned from 5,000km and 10,000km to the 42km marathon. Conversely, Kiptum has only competed in three 42km marathons.
He made his debut at the Valencia Marathon in Spain, clocking a completion time of 2:01:53, and won the 2023 TCS London Marathon in 2:01:25 before breaking Kipchoge's record.
Meanwhile, Kipchoge is gearing up for the 2024 Paris Olympics by racing at the New York Marathon on November 5. He is seeking to be the first marathoner to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 42km race after emerging first in the Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020 editions.
He has yet to comment on Kiptum breaking his world record, eliciting mixed reactions both locally and internationally. Kipchoge has also yet to respond to Kiptum saying he is ready to face off with him in Paris if he is selected to represent Kenya at next year’s Olympics.
The Olympic Games will be held from July 26 to August 11, 2024. Sports Cabinet Secretary, Ababu Namwamba in January this year, unveiled the lead team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Kenya Judo Association chairman Shadrack Maluki was appointed to lead the team alongside Wanjiru Karani Mbugua (CEO), Dr. James Ondiege (chief medical officer) and Dimmy Kisalu (team manager).
