Just when you thought the line-ups couldn’t get any better, the greatest marathon runner in history will take to the streets of the British capital on April 27
In a week of high quality race announcements for the TCS London Marathon, organisers arguably left the best until last on Friday (Jan 17). Eliud Kipchoge will try to win the race for the fifth time as he faces star-studded fields.
At the age of 40, will it be his final major marathon? The Kenyan remains coy, saying: “I’m just focused on my training. I want to put my mind on the training and the roads of London. In Africa we say, ‘you can only chase one rabbit at a time’.”
Kipchoge is coming off a poor Olympics where he dropped out of his first marathon. “It was not my day,” he says. “I hit a bump in the road but this is sport. I need to get up again and push on. It’s life.”
Eliud Kipchoge (Getty)
Prior to that he finished 10th in the Tokyo Marathon in March last year and despite impressively winning his fifth Berlin Marathon in 2023, he also finished a disappointing sixth in Boston that year in 2:09:23. Wind back the clock a little further and he finished eighth in the Covid-affected London Marathon of 2020.
As he grows older, there are undoubtedly chinks in his once iron-clad armour. He has four victories in London, however, from 2015-2019 and of course the two-time Olympic champion remains the only man to break two hours with his paced effort in Vienna in 2019.
Eliud Kipchoge (Bob Martin/INEOS 1:59)
Hugh Brasher, CEO of the TCS London Marathon, said: “Eliud Kipchoge is the greatest marathon runner of this or any other age. Indeed, you could make a compelling case that his incredible stretch of dominance in marathon racing for such a lengthy period makes him the greatest athlete we have ever seen.
“His four victories here in London is a record in the elite men’s category and, after five years away, it’s so exciting to be welcoming him back to the TCS London Marathon in 2025 for our historic 45th edition.”
READ MORE: London Marathon line-ups in full
Kipchoge added: “I am excited to share that my next race will be the TCS London Marathon. It is a race that holds a very special place in my heart, filled with so many beautiful memories, and I am eager to create even more.
“Let us celebrate the joy of running and the collective spirit of thousands of runners coming together at the start line. It’s a privilege to share this journey with everyone else who will be taking part as we push ourselves to deliver our best performances. After a good period of rest, I have returned to training with renewed energy and focus. I feel re-fuelled to give my very best in London.”
What still motivates him to carry on given that he turned 40 in November? “I love the sport,” he explains. “I’m really happy when I inspire someone. This is what excites me when I wake up every morning.”
Eliud Kipchoge (Getty)
Factfile
Born: November 5, 1984
Marathon best: 2:01:09 Berlin 2022 (official); 1:59:40 INEOS 1:59 Challenge 2019 (unofficial)
London Marathon record: 2015- 1st 2:04:42, 2016- 1st 2:03:05, 2018- 1st 2:04:17, 2019- 1st 2:02:37, 2020 – 8th 2:06:49
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Berlin: 2013- 2nd 2:04:05, 2015- 1st 2:04:00, 2017- 1st 2:03:32, 2018- 1st 2:01:39, 2022 – 1st 2:01:09, 2023 – 1st 2:02:42; Chicago: 2014- 1st 2:04:11; Tokyo: 2022 – 1st 2:02:40, 2024 – 10th 2:06:50; Boston 2023 – 6th 2:09:23
Other major city marathons: Rotterdam: 2014- 1st 2:05:00 Hamburg: 2013- 1st 2:05:30; Enschede: 2021 – 1st 2:04:30
Marathons in major championships: Olympics: 2016- 1st 2:08:44, 2020 (2021) – 1st 2:08:38, 2024 – DNF.
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