Eliud Kipchoge He wants to win his third Olympic gold in the marathon at the Paris Games, something no runner in history has ever achieved.
The Kenyan won the gold medal in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020and now he is in the third Paris 2024. The only athletes who have managed to defend an Olympic gold in the marathon are the Ethiopians Adebe Bikila in 1964 and the German Waldemar Cierpinki in 1980, but none of them achieved the triplet.
“My great hope is to win the Olympic Games for the third time and be the first person to do it (in a marathon),” the Kenyan said on Thursday at a presentation by Nike where the uniforms of some delegations that will participate in the event was presented at the Olympic Games this summer.
Kipchoge has been selected to represent his country in the 2024 Paris Marathon as well Benson Kipruto, Timothy Kiplagat, Vincent Kipkemoi and Alexander Mutiso.
In September 2023, the ‘philosopher’ won the Berlin marathon with a mark of 2h02:42, showing that he can still run at a very high level. However, in his last performance at tokyo marathongot only tenth place.
“I think I just got tired,” explained the athlete. “I don’t know what happened, but that’s life. That’s the beauty of sport.”
Kipchoge, next November will be 40 years oldwas consulted about his participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
“In Kenya we say you don’t chase two rabbits at the same time, you’ll lose them both. You should only chase one,” he replied. “Now I’m chasing the Olympics rabbit.”
Furthermore, the Kenyan removed doubts about a possible retirement after the Paris Games. “If you can convince me that by the time I cross the finish line the whole world will be a world of runners, then I will retire,” he added.
Finally, Kipchoge leaves his opinion on awards announced for olympic athleteswhich this year will be rewarded with money for the first time in the history of the Games.
“I don’t run for money, I run because I want to perform,” said Kipchoge, who also supported the World Athletics initiative because it would make the sport “more interesting” for the younger generation.
Source: La Verdad
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