Mutiso eyes London Marathon glory after Paris Olympics setback

Kenyan marathoner Alexander Mutiso Munyao is determined to put the disappointment of the Paris Olympics behind him as he gears up to defend his London Marathon title with a new personal best.

Mutiso, once considered a strong medal contender at the Paris Games, fell short, finishing 21st with a time of 2:10:31 on a grueling, hilly course that challenged even the reigning champion, Eliud Kipchoge.

Now, he is focused on making a powerful comeback at the 2025 London Marathon, aiming not only to retain his title, but also to set a new personal best.

The race, scheduled for Sunday, April 27, will see him, along with 2020 Tokyo Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir, defend their crowns from April 2024.

Mutiso's first London Marathon victory was a remarkable one, as he outpaced Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele to win his maiden World Marathon Major title with a time of 2:04:01.

Jepchirchir claimed the women's race with a time of 2:16:16.

For him, the 2025 race is more than just a title defense. He is keen to surpass his personal best of 2:03:01, set in December 2023 in Valencia, Spain.

Speaking exclusively to SportsBoom, Mutiso explained that he chose to avoid full marathons after the Paris Olympics, focusing instead on recovery and preparation for London.

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The 29-year-old revealed that after processing the disappointment of missing out on a Paris medal, he participated in shorter races in Japan as part of his training. His next test will be the Marugame Half Marathon in Japan on February 4, which he believes will be a key indicator of his progress.

"I’m confident I can defend my London title with a new personal best," Mutiso told SportsBoom.com. "After Paris, I took a break from full marathons to focus on London, and I’ve been running short races in Japan. I feel in great shape and am looking forward to the challenge."

The competition at the London Marathon will be fierce, with four-time champion Eliud Kipchoge, Olympic gold medallist Tamirat Tola, and other elite marathoners such as Abdi Nageeye, Milkesa Mengesha, and Timothy Kiplagat confirmed for the race.

Notably, Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo will make his full marathon debut, while World Half Marathon champion Sébastian Sawe will also be competing.

Despite the star-studded field, Mutiso remains undeterred, confident that the high level of competition will only push him to perform better.

"You have to beat the best to win, and competition makes the race more exciting," he said. "Facing these great athletes motivates me to push harder for a new time."

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As he continues his preparations, Mutiso is hoping to cement his legacy in the London Marathon, following in the footsteps of his compatriot Kipchoge, who has won the race four times.

Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic champion and former world record holder, is considered the most successful athlete in the history of the London Marathon, with victories in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019.

Mutiso, reflecting on his own journey, hopes to build a lasting legacy in the event.

"Winning in London last year was life-changing. It was my first major marathon win, and it elevated my career. My goal is to dominate the London Marathon for as many years as possible," he added.

With his eyes set on London, Mutiso is ready to make his mark once again and continue his rise as one of the world's elite marathoners.

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