Eliud Kipchoge to make Tokyo Marathon debut next month

Double Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge will return to Japan next month where he is set to make his debut at the Tokyo Marathon on 6 March 2022.

Back in August 2021, Kipchoge successfully defended his Olympic title at the Sapporo Odori Park, Japan as he made history in becoming just the third man to defend an Olympic marathon crown.

Having previously expressed an interest to compete in, and win, all six races of the World Marathon Majors, the world marathon record holder has gone a step further to participate in Tokyo for the first time in his illustrious career having already won three in Chicago, London and Berlin with Tokyo, New York and Boston the only three that were yet to be conquered.

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In an announcement made on Friday, it was revealed that the ‘No Human is Limited’ mental warrior will take part in this year’s competition.

“We are delighted to announce that Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge is set to make his competitive return at the 2022 Tokyo Marathon on March 6. 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,” the statement read.

On his part, Kipchoge expressed his delight at being able to make his competitive debut at the Tokyo marathon which he has been preparing for since the start of his training cycle.

“I would like to thank the organizers 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. 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 and the marathon in particular," he said.

Seen as the greatest marathon runner of all time, the first man in history to ever run a sub-two-hour marathon will be hoping to replicate his heroics in Japan when he makes his bow in the Tokyo Marathon.

The record-breaking four-time winner of the London Marathon and , 3-time Boston winner, 2014 Chicago marathon victor and two time Olympic 5000m medalist will be joined by his team mates, Jonathan Korir, Laban Korir and Ashete Bekere. Philemon Kacheran and Noah Kipkemboi will join as pacemakers.