Eliud Kipchoge Sends Strong Message as He Eyes Redemption in London at 40

Legendary Kenyan athlete is a man on a mission to amend his challenging 2024 season when he takes on the course at the upcoming this Sunday.

For Kipchoge, 2024 was a year that saw him fail to achieve several milestones by his high standards. 

He finished seventh at the Tokyo Marathon in Japan, and at the Paris Olympics, having pulled out with a hip problem at the 31 kilometre mark.

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Aside from that, he was subjected to a lot of stick in within the deep, stinky cesspools of social media following the untimely demise of reigning marathon record holder, who tragically lost his life

Others called for him to call time on his career, claiming he had lost the edge that once made him so difficult to beat before 2024.

However, as he attempts to conquer the streets of England’s greatest city for the first time since 2020, Kipchoge is choosing to look forward and not back.

Asked about whether there was any flaw in his normal training regimen in 2024, Kipchoge told the media that his immediate target is to try and get back to winning ways this Sunday.

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“I don’t think there was a big mistake,” Kipchoge said during the pre-race press briefings in London. “But you know, when you train for five months and don’t get the result, that’s a big challenge. A lot was going on, but all in all, I wake up, go to training every day, and I’m ready for Sunday.”

Kipchoge hasn’t competed in London since 2019, when he won the race for a record fourth time. Now, as he returns to familiar ground, he’s not just racing for victory—he’s racing to reclaim his legacy.

“I want to run a fruitful and strong race. I want to run with the fastest people, and if the results come in, I’ll be satisfied and ready to move on,” he added.

Kipchoge’s career, spanning over two decades, has seen him evolve from a teenage sensation on the track—winning the 5000m world title in 2003—to the undisputed king of the marathon. 

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He’s a five-time World Marathon Majors series champion and has 15 wins in 18 career marathons, including five Berlin titles and four in London.

His only defeats came in races where he battled injuries or adverse weather—finishing second at the 2013 Berlin Marathon, eighth at a rainy 2020 London race, sixth in Boston in 2023, and seventh  in Tokyo.

Reflecting on his longevity, Kipchoge said: “Back in the day, I didn’t think I’d be running for this long. I didn’t know I’d still be competing professionally after 22 years. It’s tough, and that’s why I always tell young people: be disciplined in life, treat this sport as a profession, and keep moving forward. Let’s use sport as a positive force in our lives.”

Now carrying more than just competitive ambitions, Kipchoge sees himself as an ambassador for motivation and consistency.

“For the time I’ve been in sport, I carry a huge responsibility to send out positive vibes and motivation to everyone—especially to the more than 50,000 people who’ll be running on Sunday. 

“Please, let’s encourage one another. Tell a friend to tell a friend to run every day. That’s my responsibility—my huge responsibility.”

As the London Marathon looms, Kipchoge will be chasing more than a win. He’ll be chasing redemption, rhythm, and the reaffirmation of his place as the sport’s greatest ever. And if his words are anything to go by, the legend still has unfinished business.