In the world of marathons, one name towers above all else and is synonymous with winning: Eliud Kipchoge.
This Sunday, the double Olympic champion will script yet another chapter in his storied career when he lines up at the Sydney Marathon, the newest addition to the Abbott World Marathon Majors, chasing what would be his 17th career victory over 42km.
Arguably the greatest marathoner of all time, Kipchoge holds a staggering record, including 11 victories in the World Marathon Majors. His Marathon Major triumphs include Chicago (2014), Berlin (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023), London (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019), and Tokyo (2022).
Between 2014 and 2019, he strung together an unbeaten run of 10 straight marathons, a streak unmatched in modern distance running. He is also the only man this century to defend an Olympic marathon crown, winning in Rio 2016 and retaining his gold in Tokyo 2020.
Kipchoge joined Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikila (1960, 1964) and East Germany’s Waldemar Cierpinski (1976, 1980) in an elite company that has secured back-to-back Olympic Marathon titles.
Beyond the majors, Kipchoge has also triumphed in Hamburg (2013), Rotterdam (2014) and Enschede (2021), bringing his tally to 16 victories from 21 career starts. Now 40, Kipchoge simply views competing at the highest level as an achievement.
"Running at 40 is a privilege and a success, I am actually happy that my body is handling the training and I am still running like anybody else," Kipchoge said during the Sydney Marathon pre-race press conference.
He revealed he has trained specifically for this challenge. "I have been preparing for Sydney for the last three and a half months," Kipchoge said.
"The course is good, I have come here to run and enjoy every mile in Sydney and ensure I go across the finish line," he added. But Sydney is more than just another race for Kipchoge; it’s about legacy.
"I believe that legacy is not earned because of medals and records, but when you inspire someone and try to push the limits of a human being like I am doing," he said. "I don't need to prove anything, but I still want to run to promote the movement of running."
He also lauded the city’s elevation to the Abbott Marathon Majors (Tokyo, Boston, London, Chicago, Berlin and New York) to become the seventh globally recognised race. "Sydney has done a lot to be recognised as an Abbott Marathon Major and I congratulate them."
"I am happy to be here in Sydney and Australia. I want to make it a beautiful race," he said.
On Sunday, Kipchoge will toe the line in the Australian capital, hoping to exorcise ghosts of past Marathon heartbreaks on the global stage.
During the 2024 season, Kipchoge opened his campaign with a disappointing 10th-place finish in Tokyo before recording a DNF at the Paris Olympic Games. This year, Kipchoge competed at the London Marathon in April, eyeing a record-extending fifth title in the British Capital. However, he fell short, finishing sixth in 2:05.25.
Sebastian Sawe (2:02:27), Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo (2:03:37) and Alexander Munyao (2:04:20) claimed the podium in that race. Kipchoge will be joined by compatriot Vincent Ngetich, eyeing his fourth podium finish of the season. Ngetich placed second at the Santa Pola Half Marathon, third at the Tokyo Marathon and third again at the Manchester 10K.
The women’s field will be headlined by Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, who is bidding to make history on Australian roads. "I am not good on the hills, I am really happy to be here to compete as Sydney becomes a Marathon major, and I am glad to be part of history," Sifan said.
Her biggest rival on Sunday will be two-time Chicago and London Champion Brigid Kosgei. Kosgei will be chasing her first victory of the season after having finished second at the Hamburg Marathon in April.
