Alexander Munyao and Peres Jepchirchir are gearing up to pocket northwards of Ksh7 million each after winning gold medals during their respective London Marathon races.
Munyao defeated 3-time champion Kenenisa Bekele after finishing with a time of 2:04:01 while Jepchirchir posted a stellar performance finishing first with a time of 2:16:15, breaking the world record in the process.
The marathon's organisers award the four elite race winners Ksh7.2 million (£44,000) each. The elite races include males, females, male wheelchairs and female wheelchairs.
According to the organisers, the runner's up will receive a Ksh4 million reward (£24,000) while the third place holders will receive a Ksh3 million (£18,000) windfall.
In the women's race, Jepchirchir took the lead followed by Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia at 2:16:23, Joyciline Jepkosgei (Kenya) finished at 2:16:24 and Mergutu Alemu of Ethiopia (2:16:34).
Jepchirchir will also receive an additional Ksh16.6 million for breaking the world record placing her total earnings at Ksh23 million.
Locally, the world record breaker will be entitled to an additional windfall of Ksh5 million in line with President William Ruto's directive in June 2023.
At the time, in honour of Faith Kipyegon's groundbreaking performance, the head of state unlocked a Ksh5 million prize for each athlete who breaks a world record.
"For every world record broken by a Kenyan, the government of Kenya is going to award Ksh5 million," Ruto stated at the time.
History at the London Marathon
The organisers of the marathon also celebrated a new feat that saw all gold medalists for the four elite races receive equal rewards.
They argued that the equal prize would pave the way for more participants to take part in the race. The April 21 edition saw 50,000 participants join the race.
“The London Marathon is setting a great and strong but also courageous example for equality and inclusion that should go beyond the world of sport and hopefully inspires in other areas, too,” Marcel Hug who won the men's wheelchair race told the international press.
The Guinness World Record also documented costume participants which saw individuals race while dressed in scientist outfits, game characters and cheerleader clothes.
