In an exclusive interview with Olympics before the tournament, Kipchoge revealed he recently became a representative athlete for the Kenyan Olympic Committee to inspire and guide the younger generation.
"I've always looked for a mentoring role where I can be a voice for the next generation," the 40-year-old runner said. "This is a great opportunity for me to extend my influence beyond running to other sports like rugby, soccer, judo, and boxing."
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Eliud Kipchoge wins his fifth Berlin Marathon in 2023. Photo: Kevin Morris |
Eliud Kipchoge wins his fifth Berlin Marathon in 2023. Photo: Kevin Morris
This shift is the next step in Kipchoge's career. He has competed professionally for 22 years, winning two Olympic gold medals and 11 major marathons, including four in London (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019), five in Berlin (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023), one in Chicago (2014), and one in Tokyo (2021). He shared that he faced many difficulties when he was young and wished he had the guidance he's now providing to the next generation.
In November 2024, Sydney beat out Cape Town Marathon (South Africa) and Chengdu Marathon (China) to become the seventh member of the World Marathon Majors (WMM), joining New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Tokyo, and Berlin. The Australian event will be the first WMM race in the Southern Hemisphere.
Kipchoge acknowledges the challenge of the Sydney course but is confident he will perform well. "The pressure to win is immense. But the greater pressure is to inspire people to take up running and to show the world the meaning of endurance in the marathon," he said. "The current course record is 2 hours and 6 minutes. We can achieve a good result to honor Sydney as the city joins the World Marathon Majors."
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Kipchoge celebrates with fans and family at the 2022 Berlin Marathon on 25/9. Photo: NN Running Team |
Kipchoge celebrates with fans and family at the 2022 Berlin Marathon on 25/9. Photo: NN Running Team
The 2025 Sydney Marathon promises to be a top-tier competition, bringing together many of the world's leading male runners. Kipchoge faces challenges from several athletes who have achieved sub-2:04 times.
One of them is Birhanu Legese, the two-time Tokyo Marathon champion from Ethiopia. His personal best (PB) is 2:02:48, placing him among the nine fastest marathon runners in history.
Other contenders include 25-year-old Kenyan Vincent Ngetich, who made a splash with a 2:03:13 time in his Berlin Marathon debut. Ethiopian runner Dawit Wolde is in top form, having recently won the 2025 Xiamen Marathon with a course record and PB of 2:03:48.
In addition to the Kenyan and Ethiopian stars, the 2025 Sydney Marathon will also feature Yuki Kawauchi, a Japanese marathon icon. With a time of 2:07:27, Kawauchi is known for his endurance and is pursuing his dream of completing all seven WMM races.
According to the World Marathon Majors, the 2025 Sydney Marathon boasts 15 male athletes with times equal to or better than the course record, including nine who have run under 2:05, 16 under 2:06, and 29 under 2:10. This is considered the strongest elite field ever assembled for a marathon in Australia.
Hong Duy
(Canadian Running Magazine)
