Kibiwott Kandie draws inspiration from Paul Tergat as he eyes winning return in Berlin

It is make or break for former world half marathon record holder Kibiwott Kandie ahead of Berlin Marathon showdown on Sunday, September 29.

The marathoner is set to make a return to the grand stage after an absence since May 2023 following an injury that forced him to pull out of the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

The absence marked the second consecutive time the Commonwealth Games 10,000m bronze medallist missed out on the global showpiece.

Kandie is now poised for a make or break race as he gets back on the road for the first time since his injury.

The Berlin Marathon offers substantial prize money, with top finishers and record-breakers standing to earn millions, though five-time champion Eliud Kipchoge will not compete this year.

The former world half marathon record holder has revealed he is in good shape, having kept to his training routine with the competition in mind.

“I carried on training knowing that one day there would finally be a race. I stayed in good shape,» he told

Kandie is drawing inspiration from his hero and former long distance runner Paul Tergat ahead of his return.

“When I was young, I used to hear everyone saying, Paul Tergat, world records. This has stayed in my mind,” he revealed.

Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge may be getting to the end of his career but he has no plans to quit running even when he retires from the sport.

“He became a kind of role model and I used to think when I grow up I would like to be like him, I would like to run like him, I would like to do the things he has done. He still inspires me, he’s still a role model for me. The work that I am doing is because of him. I feel I can’t let him down.”

The Kenyan is one of only seven men to ever complete a half marathon in under 58 minutes, with his personal best of 57:32. He won the Valencia half marathon three times, including when he set the world record in 2020.