Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge responds to murmurs of retirement
Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 09.10.24. | 07:28
For Kipchoge, retirement is not yet on the horizon. He expressed a desire to redefine the narrative of an athlete’s career progression
Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge has addressed recent speculations about his retirement, asserting that he still has some energy left in his tank for a few more marathons.
Despite the unexpected result in his last Olympic hurrah, the two-time world record holder has no intentions to call time on his career, not just yet. He is determined to continue running and inspiring the world.
Kipchoge, who was just shy of his 40th birthday, was headed for another milestone in his celebrated marathon career. He was aiming to get back to winning ways, or at least reach the Olympic podium for a fourth time in his fifth Olympic Games.
The greatest marathoner of all time stayed at a touching distance of the leading pack up to the 15km mark. Then he began holding his waist, early worrying signs that all was not well for the defending Olympic champion.
The pain intensified forcing him to take a difficult decision, to end his race about 12 km away from the finish point at Les Invalides. That saw him record a Did Not Finish (DNF) for the first time in his illustrious career. Before the Olympics, Kipchoge's worst marathon result was 10th place at the 2024 Tokyo Marathon.
He has however brushed off the disappointments and resumed training, aiming to compete in more races in future. He is however taking a cautious approach on his return to running.
“I resumed training three weeks ago but I’m taking it very slowly. I want to peak slowly, then try to move on slowly. I had to take time off to adjust, to see what was going on, and then just pick up again and move on.
It was tough. But I think I am doing well,” he told Olympics.
For Kipchoge, retirement is not yet on the horizon. He expressed a desire to redefine the narrative of an athlete’s career progression.
“All the stories have been about quitting when you are up. I want to sell a new story,” he averred.
Kipchoge envisions a future where he remains deeply connected to the running community, but not in the conventional role of a coach.
“Why don’t you just do other things and do it smoothly? Put your foot on another thing which is associated with running and still give inspiration and make the world united again through running.
I will do other things than become a coach. I don’t think I will fit in coaching,” he disclosed.
