Sometimes, even legends find it hard to keep running and hit a bump in the road. And that’s exactly what went down on April 26, when one track legend and two-time Olympic champion ended up with an unexpected 6th place finish. The location of this upset? The famous London Marathon. Despite being 40, most fans thought that the marathon icon would score another trademark win. But this time things just didn’t go his way. But while all this went down, there was one question that popped up. Is he done? Is the legend over?
After all, if you look at yesterday’s results, it’s easy to see that the phenom known as Eliud Kipchoge isn’t the same. While he is still giving tough competition, it was Sebastian Sawe from Kenya who claimed victory at 29 years old while dominating the competition. Sawe made his marathon racing debut by creating a significant gap from other runners at the 90-minute mark before finishing first in 2:02:27.
Meanwhile, world half-marathon record holder Jacob Kiplimo from Uganda finished second with a time of 2:03:37 after making his marathon debut. The competition between Kipchoge and Sawe formed the main event, but the race also included defending London champion Alex Mutiso, who finished third in 2:04:20, and Olympic gold medalist Tamirat Tola, who placed fifth.
But Kipchoge? The final time for Kipchoge in his race was 2:05:25 as he crossed the finish line in position six. The outcome proved different from what athletes and fans normally expect to witness from Kipchoge’s distinguished track and field record. Kipchoge continued to be the approachable person we know today despite not winning the race.
When Citius Mag asked how he felt about his performance, he smiled and said, “I’m happy with the performance. I’m happy with the place. I’m happy to run here, to finish with my footsteps here. Yeah, as running is a movement.” And when the interviewer asked how the second half of the race felt, with the temperature rising and all, Kipchoge didn’t miss a beat: “Oh, it was a little bit harder, but, you know, I’m happy with it.”
There doesn’t seem to be any bitterness in the legend regarding his loss. He continued with, “I must still be able to move with the next generation. I’m happy with it, moving with them, the same values, trying to instill in them the same values. And I hope they’ll be running for the next 20 years.” Always thinking about the bigger picture and the future of running. We must remember precisely who this track and field legend is.
Through his career, Kipchoge has become a double Olympic champion and secured World champion status once, and attained silver medals at the World Championships and the Olympics. One competition, regardless of unexpected outcomes, cannot shift his historical standing as an athlete. The world championship status remains firmly with him because of his current number-one ranking.
Throughout a remarkable career, Kipchoge experienced many record-breaking wins, followed by magnificent achievements, before this fleeting failure. So, what’s next for Kipchoge? Does this race bring changes to his method of competing in track and field? Let’s hear from him.
The Marathon legend speaks on expectations and legacy
In the same interview, when Eliud Kipchoge was asked if his expectations had changed over the years, he gave an insightful and humble response. Once someone who expected nothing less than victory, now, at 40, he seems more at peace with his journey in track and field. “I’m happy, actually, with what I’m doing. I’m here not to prove to anybody in this world anything at all, but to run with the Olympic spirit,” he shared.
He went on to explain that London is the only city where the Olympics have been held in the streets—1908, 1948, and 2012—and that’s a big reason why the marathon means so much to him. “The London Marathon speaks the language and spirit of the Olympics,” he shared. “I’m here to support the movement of running and just to make peace while I’m at it.” It’s clear that for Kipchoge, it’s not just about racing—it’s about something bigger.
When further asked about the winner’s performance, Kipchoge showed his usual class and respect for the younger generation of track and field athletes. “I’m happy with them. These are the young generation. These are young people. You know, life should continue, and continue, and continue. And I’m happy to see, you know, I am old enough. This is my 22nd year in running, and you know, these guys are younger than my profession. So, I’m the youngest man with the youngest guys.”
Kipchoge’s words reveal a mindset that transcends mere competition. It’s not about the titles but about supporting the movement of running, inspiring future generations, and running with a purpose in track and field that goes beyond personal achievements.
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