Nairobi: World’s greatest marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge has become the newest Laureus Sport for Good Ambassador. The announcement was made on the second anniversary of one of his greatest athletics’ feats, when he ran the fastest time ever in a marathon in Berlin in two hours one minutes and 39 seconds – breaking the previous record by 78 seconds, the biggest improvement on the marathon world record in 51 years.
Kipchoge, the latest in a long line of distinguished Kenyan long-distance runners, and a winner of the Laureus Academy Exceptional Achievement Award, also famously became the only athlete to run a marathon in under two hours, recording one hour 59 minutes and 40 seconds, in Vienna in October 2019. It was a landmark achievement, though not an official world record because it was not in open competition.
In an interview with Laureus Academy Member and Olympic legend Michael Johnson on Laureus.com, Kipchoge has confirmed he is very much eager to compete in the marathon at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics next year, even though he would be 36.
“I was really looking forward to running in the Tokyo Olympics. Unfortunately, COVID-19 changed the world and health and safety is the first priority,” said Kipchoge. “I am really looking forward to running next year. It will be an honour to be there next year, I am fit and will do everything I can to make the Kenyan team and represent my country.”
He also said that he is also looking forward to competing in the re-arranged London Marathon on October 4. “I am happy to be coming back to London for a very different and exciting race. I have prepared as best I can under the circumstances, I think I am ready. We will miss all the fun runners and the crowds. In my mind, we will still run together. Actually that is an extra motivation to run a great race,” he said.
In his career, Kipchoge has won 12 out of the13 marathons he participated in. “I am feeling truly glad to be an Ambassador for Laureus. I will be joining great sportsmen and women of this world to share good ideas about sport. On the other hand, I will be involved to see how Laureus is helping foundations that benefit the human family. Laureus uses sport to bring communities and individuals together. This will be even more important in the future as we try to rebuild our world for the better. I am really happy to be an Ambassador,” he said.
Nelson Mandela has been an inspiration for Kipchoge. “Nelson Mandela inspires me. This quote hangs on a poster by my bed in Kaptagat, as a motivation and as a reminder for me. Actually, when I see that poster, I remember that running is also about inspiring others and encouraging people to believe that nothing is impossible. Sport can join people together, it is something that connects the world, and also makes us equal,” he concluded.
