- Kenyan Marathoner Eliud Kipchoge was hopeful of breaking the Berlin Marathon world record
- He wanted to break his 2018 world record of 2:01:39
- He won the Berlin Marathon on Sunday in 2:02:42
Kenyan Marathoner Eliud Kipchoge was hopeful of breaking the Berlin Marathon world record and it feels somewhat disappointing that he didn’t, he says.
He won the Berlin Marathon on Sunday in 2:02:42, becoming the first person to win the race five times. However, he wanted to break his 2018 world record of 2:01:39.
Kipchoge in a post-race interview said that he was in good shape but unavoidable hiccups during the race took over but he is glad he won the marathon all the same.
“I was expecting to break the world record but it did not come as expected. I was in good shape but I got some hiccups but it’s normal in a race. I have won but I did not break the world record. It’s a learning process and the focus is putting that experience in next year’s Paris Olympics,” he said.
Kipchoge started the race at a fast pace, and he quickly opened up a gap on the other runners. He passed the 5K mark in 14:12, and he passed the 10K mark in 28:24.
He continued to run at a fast pace throughout the first half of the race. He passed the 20K mark in 56:48, and he passed the 25K mark in 1:12:00.
Eliud Kipchoge in Berlin Marathon 2023. Photo/CNN
The 37-year-old maintained his lead in the second half of the race. He passed the 30K mark in 1:27:12, and he passed the 35K mark in 1:42:24.
Kipchoge crossed the finish line in a time of 2:02:42, more than three minutes ahead of the second-place finisher, Vincent Kipkemboi of Kenya.
His victory in the Berlin Marathon is a testament to his greatness as a runner. He is one of the most dominant marathon runners in history, and he has won some of the biggest races in the world, including the Berlin Marathon, the London Marathon, and the Tokyo Marathon.
This recent victory forms a big part of his athletics career which he says it is never easy but fights hard enough to win.
Eliud Kipchoge. Photo/Outside Magazine
“I live for the moments where I get to challenge myself. It’s never guaranteed, it’s never easy. Today I’m happy for Comeback and the results. I pushed myself as hard as I could but sometimes, we must accept that today wasn’t the day to push the barrier to a greater height.
I want to congratulate my competitors and thank everyone in BERLIN-MARATHON and my management Demadonna Athletic Promotions adidas Running for the support and people from home for the incredible support .I am so humbled to receive. In sports you win and you lose and there is always tomorrow to set a new challenge,” he said.
The Rift Valley-born athlete has demonstrated his dedication to athletics for over a decade, pushing himself very hard in training.
His team describes him as an athlete who is always looking for ways to improve his performance and also takes care of his body.
With his recent victory, Kipchoge walks home with $50,000 (Sh7.3 million) in prize money.
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