Eliud Kipchoge: “I want to play in Valencia one day”

The legendary Eliud Kipchoge, two-time Olympic marathon champion and preparing for the Paris Games this summer, gave an interview to EFE from his native Kenya where he talks about his short, medium and long-term goals.

“I will try to win a gold medal,” said the 39-year-old Kenyan, who could become the first athlete to win three consecutive Olympic marathons.

In addition, he assures that he wants to run in Valencia “one day to feel the flat course” and after retirement he thinks about “traveling around the world to inspire young people”.

How are you feeling a few months before the Paris Games?

I feel good. The training has started. I hope it continues well for the next three months.

Do you plan to compete in any high-level races before Paris?

No, I’m just focused on Paris.

Are you ready to win your third straight Olympic gold and make history?

I’m really ready for that.

Is this the biggest challenge of your career?

Definitely yes, this is the biggest challenge.

How confident do you feel that you can achieve that feat?

I have confidence. I will do everything to achieve it. If I do, that’s fine. If I don’t succeed, the world will know that I persevered in trying to achieve the unthinkable.

Some experts argue that an Olympic marathon is easier than a commercial marathon. Do you share this view?

No, I think the Olympics are actually more difficult than the commercial marathon. Paris will be complicated on the route. And, besides, the temperatures will be high. It will be difficult. July and August will be terrible.

Do you think you can break the two-hour barrier in Paris?

Nope. I will try to win a gold medal, not run faster. The goal is to win a gold medal.

As of 2024, he has only fought once. It was at the Tokyo Marathon in March and he finished tenth in his worst race to date. Did you learn any lessons in Tokyo that are useful in Paris?

The only lesson I learned is that sport is like life. Anything can happen and we must respect what happened and move forward. Yes, you can set many goals, but you can’t achieve them all.

Following the tragic death of Kelvin Kiptum, all eyes will be on you at these Olympics. Does that mean more pressure?

Not really. I feel sorry for him, because he died so young, at that age. But I will do my best and I will not compete with anyone. I will run my own race.

Many considered Kiptum to be his successor. Who do you see in that role now?

I think we have a lot of athletes in Kenya. I can’t pinpoint who, but we have a lot of good athletes. Locally they have achieved a lot. The world must go on. We can’t stop.

What do you think of World Athletics’ decision to reward the Olympic gold winners in Paris with $50,000?

I think it’s a great idea, a great gesture driven by World Athletics. And this is a sign of joint work with the International Olympic Committee (…). Everyone here is part of a sport.

Do you want to compete in the famous Valencia Marathon in Spain?

I want to run one day (in Valencia) to feel that flat course.

Are you considering it in the short or medium term?

Yes absolutely.

What do you think of the war waged by shoe brands and their prices, some costing around $500, in search of more innovation to make runners faster?

This is the future. It’s technology and you can’t stop technology.

He will be 40 in November. Do you see yourself competing in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles?

That’s too far to think about the next four years, but I think I’ll be there to inspire people and see how the next generation competes.

What plans do you have for your life after athletics?

I want to travel around the world to inspire young and old generations about sports. Sport is life, sport brings health, sport can make the world peaceful.

Have you ever thought about working as a coach?

I never thought about training. But I want to do more with training to maintain stamina and run people.