- Kipchoge failed in his bid to win the Boston Marathon
- He is chasing history for a fifth berlin Marathon title
- He will chase a third consecutive Olympic title next year
Eliud Kipchoge has confirmed that he will return to the Berlin Marathon this September, as he seeks an unprecedented fifth title in the German capital.
Kipchoge will be gunning for a record fifth crown, as he currently has four, sharing the record with Ethiopia’s Haille Gebrselassie who won the crown in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
He returns to a ground where he set his world record in 2022, shaving 30 seconds off his previous mark, after running 2:01.09.
The Kenyan Marathon master clinched the Berlin marathon title in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022, also setting a world record in 2018 and 2022.
As he sought to become the first person to win all six major marathons in the world, most had thought he would choose to run at the New York Marathon in November, the only World Major he has not competed in.
Turned down New York for Berlin
Eliud Kipchoge. Photo/Capital News
However, he has turned that down for a more favourable return to Berlin.
He had tried his luck at the Boston Marathon in April, but he could not win his fifth Major after finishing sixth in the punishing course.. Ultimately, Kipchoge opted for Berlin because it is the “perfect preparation” for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he chases his third Olympic title.
“On my road to the Paris Olympic Games, I like to go back to Berlin Marathon, since to me this is the perfect preparation. I have great memories there and I look forward to running the streets of Berlin again, together with the thousands of runners that will join,” Kipchoge said, speaking to his management team the NN Running Team.
Kipchoge is expected to face a significant challenge in the German capital, particularly from his teammate Amos Kipruto, the winner of the London Marathon in 2022.
Notably, Kipchoge has only experienced one defeat at the Berlin Marathon, which occurred in 2013. It was his second marathon ever and he finished as the runner-up to fellow Kenyan Wilson Kipsang.
But why is Berlin so vital for Kipchoge?
Eliud Kipchoge. Photo/The Globe and Mail
The Kenyan marathon king is looking for a massive confidence boost ahead of the Olympics, and the best place to go would be Berlin. He has found favour in the relatively flat and fast course, and running a good race, probably with a record on top, might be the push he needs to vie for a third Olympic crown.
New York was an option to the world record holder, but instead of hunting on an unfamiliar ground, he has decided to fight a more familiar battle in Germany.
A win in Berlin will be a boost for his mental preparation for Paris 2024.
And now, what happens after Paris?
While he is yet to achieve his target of winning all six majors, it is left to be seen whether he will keep going after Paris. With the New York and Bostin boxes yet to be ticked, he might be tempted to give them one last try.
Previously, Kipchoge has shot down questions on whether he will retire soon.
“I still feel strong and I still feel that I can run. Of course there will come a time when the body will naturally tell you to stop. But at the moment, I am not thinking of that,” he noted in a previous interview with SportsLeo.
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