On 11/5, Macron ran and chatted casually with Kipchoge as they passed an area near the Bunyala Road roundabout, followed by a group of accompanying athletes.
The 48-year-old leader wore a navy sports shirt with white stripes on the sleeves, black shorts, and blue running shoes. Kipchoge, meanwhile, appeared in his familiar matching-tone attire.
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French President Emmanuel Macron (center) runs with marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge (second from left) in Nairobi, Kenya on 11/5, ahead of the Africa Forward Summit. *Photo: AFP* |
During their run, the two stopped at State House primary school. Many students ran out to greet the guests. Macron stood looking into a classroom through a window, then waved to the children outside.
When a teacher asked the students who they recognized, they collectively replied: "Kipchoge and Emmanuel". A student then asked the French president's name, and he replied simply: "Emmanuel".
After the meeting, Macron posted a short message on social media: "Today I have new friends".
The run took place just hours before the Africa Forward Summit opened in Nairobi. The summit brought together leaders, ministers, investors, and policymakers from Africa and Europe, focusing on discussions about trade, infrastructure, climate, technology, education, and global financial reform.
Kipchoge, also expected to attend the summit, stated he wanted to promote discussions on Africa's sports economy. "I look forward to productive exchanges on the sports industry and how to better develop sports in Africa," he said.
Macron has long been known for his habit of exercising during foreign trips. In late 2025, he appeared in a training session with French fitness YouTuber Tibo InShape and French soldiers in Abu Dhabi.
Kipchoge is considered the greatest marathon runner in history. The Kenyan runner has won 11 major races: four times in London (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019), five in Berlin (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023), one in Chicago (2014), and Tokyo (2021), along with two Olympic gold medals.
Kipchoge twice broke the world record, achieving 2 hours 1 minute 39 seconds at the 2018 Berlin Marathon and 2 hours 1 minute 9 seconds at the same event in 2022. He was also the first athlete to run a sub-two-hour marathon, achieving 1 hour 59 minutes 40 seconds at the Ineos 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, Austria, in 10/2019. However, World Athletics did not recognize this as a record because the runner, born in 1984, competed under controlled conditions, including no opponents and alternating pacers.
The 41-year-old athlete concluded his peak career after finishing 17th at the 2025 New York Marathon, having completed all seven of the world's most prestigious marathon races. He then announced a project named "World Tour" - running 7 marathons on 7 continents in two years.
By Hong Duy (according to Marathon Handbook)
