Athletics

Eliud Kipchoge to make Tokyo Marathon debut next month

by
Mike Barasa
February 18, 2022

Eliud Kipchoge returns to Japan less than a year after winning his Olympic gold
He is looking to add another major marathon title to his name
Tokyo is one of three major marathons he has not run yet

Double Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge has confirmed that he will compete in one of the three major marathons he has never competed in, the Tokyo Marathon.

Kipchoge’s management, NN Running, made the confirmation on Friday, with Eliud set to return to teh country he made history in, winning his second consecutive Olympic title in Sapporo last year.

“I would like to thank the organisers of the Tokyo Marathon to make it possible for me and my colleague athletes to race in Tokyo. My focus has been on Tokyo from the beginning of my training cycle, and I can say I am ready to race there,” Kipchoge said.

He added; “I am very excited to run in a country where running is a crucial part of the sport culture and looking forward to experience the Japanese excitement for running an the marathon in particular.”

“In August, Eliud successfully defended his Olympic marathon crown on the streets of Sapporo at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Now the Kenyan distance running icon has targeted a return to Japan, where he makes his Tokyo Marathon debut,” NN Running said in a statement.

Eliud Kipchoge.[Credit/runnersworld.com]

It added; “Eliud, the world record-holder and the first man in history to run a sub-two-hour marathon – achieving the feat at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge – has spoken of his desire to compete and win all six Abbott World Marathon Majors, regarded as the world’s top six marathon races.”

In his CV, Kipchoge has run the London, Chicago and Berlin Marathon’s winning all. He has won London four times, Berlin thrice and finished second once and Chicago once.

The Major Marathons he hasn’t competed in include Tokyo, Boston and New York. With one chalked down already, it is yet to be seen whether or not he will challenge for the two remaining.

Kipchoge has already confirmed that he will compete to defend his Marathon title in Paris 2024. He already made history by becoming only the third man to ever win back to back Olympic titles.

With a third on the horizon, the marathon running legend, oft regarded as the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) will be going for another huge scalp of history in Paris.

In the French Capital, Kipchoge will be close to celebrating his 40^th birthday.