Kipchoge out to leave a legacy in Tokyo

As Eliud Kipchoge prepares for his fourth Olympic appearance during the Tokyo 2020 Games, he has set his sight on ‘making a legacy’ by joining the small list of Olympic marathoners who have clinched back-to-back titles. 

Only two men in history have managed the feat, Ethiopian pioneer Abeba Bikila who claimed his gold medals in 1960 and 1964 and East German Waldemar Cierpinski the 1976 and 1980 champion.

Kipchoge and women's World Marathon record holder Bridgid Kosgei lead a strong contingent of six Kenyan athletes, three for each gender who will represent the country in the Games’ marathon.

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The men’s team has Kipchoge, Lawrence Cherono and Amos Kipruto while Kosgei is joined by Ruth Chepngetich and Peres Jepchirchir, all of whom are making their debut at the Olympics but for Kipchoge.

Kipchoge is a favourite for gold as the defending champion, the current world record holder, at 2:01:39, and in 2019 he became the first person to run a sub-two-hour marathon. 

Going to Tokyo carrying the tag of the ‘Greatest Of All Time’ all eyes will be on the four-time London Marathon champion as he takes to the streets of Sapporo on August 8 seeking to add his name to this very small but exclusive club. 

Kipchoge, in an interview with his management NN Running team, says that the break occasioned by Covid-19 came as a shock but he was lucky to have huge support that got him through training on his own.

“I don’t think I lost a lot of fitness, I just tried my best to make sure I trained to my best during the lockdown,” he recalls.

He returned to the competitive arena in October 2020 at the rescheduled London Marathon. However, an ear blockage and hip problem hampered him and he conceded his seven-year unbeaten marathon streak stretching back to the 2013 Berlin Marathon. 

“I was totally disappointed with the result but I understand sport,” he told NN Running. “I did not take the flight to London expecting just to show up and win. I don’t have complaints, anything can happen in a competition. I just need to stay focused, forge ahead and continue.”

Earlier this year in Enschede, he returned to winning ways with victory in the NN Mission Marathon at Twente Airport, recording an impressive 2:04:30 in an assignment that provided ideal preparation for his Olympic quest in Japan. 

“To come back again and enjoy that winning feeling, and to show people I can still win and run well was a plus for me. I was really happy to compete in Twente, win the race and regain my confidence. It was also nice to give hope to others in these hard times,” he offered.

Kipchoge says he has no objection to the marathon venue, which takes place 800km north of Tokyo in Sapporo because of the likely cooler conditions, as he says everyone will compete in the same environment and conditions. “I’m sure it will be a great competition.” 

Excited to once again represent his country on the biggest stage and in a country with such a rich marathon heritage, is enormously exciting for the greatest marathoner in history. 

But, he also understands the significance of competing at a Tokyo Olympics where 57 years ago Bikila, the first sub-Saharan African Olympic champion, retained his Olympic marathon title. 

“The venue is very significant,” explains Kipchoge. “Bikila’s achievements brought the sport home to Africa in a big way. I’m one of many following in his footsteps.” 

He sees the Games as offering a beacon of hope that life will soon return to normal and he is motivated to play his part in that journey. “We are in a huge transition to normal life,” explains Kipchoge, a three-time Olympic medalist who won 5000m bronze and silver medals at the 2004 and 2008 Games alongside his Olympic marathon gold in Rio.

Additional reporting by NN Running team