Eliud Kipchoge Aims for Unprecedented Three-Peat in Paris 2024
Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic champion, is ready to make history at the Paris 2024 Summer Games by becoming the first man to win three Olympic marathon gold medals. This would be a remarkable achievement for the former world marathon record holder, who has already made his mark on the sport with an unprecedented running career.
According to Kipchoge, the Olympics are about more than just winning. “The Olympic Games wants everybody to associate, it promotes freedom of association whereby all of us, about 100 countries will be there competing together and shaking hands at the finish line,” he says. He also emphasizes the importance of participation, adding, “Personally, I want to make my country a running country and make the world a running world.”
Kipchoge will be joined by Tokyo Marathon winner Benson Kipruto and London Marathon champion Alexander Munyao in the Kenyan men’s marathon. He has tipped them to go for an unprecedented Olympics podium sweep in Paris. “I think my teammates actually are very good, they are high class, energetic, and disciplined athletes. I trust we will compete in a good way and make the podium for all of us,” he says.
Despite facing stiff competition from athletes from Ethiopia, Uganda, and other East African nations, Kipchoge is not underestimating his rivals. “I respect all other competitors. Everybody who is in the Olympics is an Olympian and they represent their country. I cannot underrate anybody,” he says.
Kipchoge’s journey to the Olympics began at the Athens 2004 Olympics, where he won bronze in the men’s 5,000m. He went on to win silver at the Beijing 2008 Summer Games, but failed to qualify for the London 2012 Olympics. However, this setback prompted him to switch to road running, and he went on to win 15 out of 18 marathons, including 12 wins in the Marathon Majors and setting the world record twice.
In Brazil, Kipchoge became only the second Kenyan after the late Samuel Wanjiru to win men’s marathon gold, before successfully defending his title at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics in 2021. Kenya’s marathon team will compete on August 10.
