News Article

• Becoming A Marathon Icon: Eliud Kipchoge transitioned from a successful track career, including Olympic medals, to becoming a dominant force in marathons. His debut at the 2013 Hamburg Marathon set the stage for numerous marathon victories, including multiple world records and becoming first person to run under 2-hours for a marathon.


• Mindset and Philosophy: Central to Kipchoge's success is his mantra, "No Human is Limited," which underscores his approach to training and racing. His philosophy emphasizes discipline, incremental progress, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, serving as an inspiration to anyone striving to achieve their goals.


• Going for Record 3rd Gold Medal in Marathon: Kipchoge aims to secure his third consecutive gold medal in the marathon at the Paris Olympics, marking a historic achievement in Olympic history. With a top 3 finish, he'll also secure a fifth Olympic medal.

Twenty-one years ago, Eliud Kipchoge arrived in Paris for his debut at the senior world championships, claiming gold in the 5000 meters at just 18 years old. Now, two decades later, he returns to the same city, aiming to rewrite history in the marathon at the Paris Olympic Games. What Eliud has accomplished in the sport of running between that race and the one just before us is, in a word, legendary. Let's explore the iconic moments that define his journey to what will be another opportunity for him to prove to the world that no human is limited.

From Track Sensation to Marathon Icon

Before switching to the marathon distance in 2013, Kipchoge's track career had already seen successes, including a bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics and silver at Beijing 2008 in the 5,000 meters. He attempted to gain a place on the 10,000 meter Olympic team at the Prefontaine Classic, but fell back in the late stages of the Kenyan trial race, finishing seventh. After this disappointing performance at the 2012 Olympic trials, Kipchoge shifted his focus to marathons due to a chronic hamstring issue that kept him from making the London Olympic team. His debut in the 2013 Hamburg Marathon marked a new chapter, followed by a stunning victory and course record of 2:05:30.

Kipchoge's Major Marathon Victories

Since his breakthrough race in Rotterdam 2014, Kipchoge has dominated the marathon distance. Victories in Chicago (2014), five wins in Berlin (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2023), and four wins in London (2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019), showcasing his unmatched consistency in the marathon. He set a world record in 2018 at Berlin (2:01:39) one year after leading the first official sub-2-hour attempt under the Nike Breaking2 project. At the 2022 Berlin Marathon he went on to break the world record again winning in a time of 2:01:09, three years after officially breaking the 2-hour barrier during the INEOS Challenge in Vienna.

Breaking the 2-Hour Barrier in the Marathon

Kipchoge's pursuit of the sub-2-hour marathon is what truly defines him as one of the best athletes in the world. At this point in his marathon career, Eliud experienced a significant shift in his mindset. The pursuit of this seemingly impossible goal activated within him a deeper focus and purpose for his running. Patrick Sang, his coach, noticed this shift and had to make sure he too aligned with where his athlete was now willing to go.

Under Nike's Breaking2 project in 2017, the world saw him narrowly miss breaking the barrier by 26 seconds, running the marathon distance in 2:00:25. In 2019, two years later in Vienna, Austria he made history, crossing the finish line in 1:59:40. His performance doesn't count as an official world record per IAAF rules due to the extensive use of pacemakers, coaches delivering water, and a team of 42 rotating pacemakers supported by a car with laser projection for track positioning. Although not recognized as a world record, the achievement was a reflection of Kipchoge's deep rooted belief that humans are not limited.

Overcoming Challenges

Even though Kipchoge has proven to be the top marathoner in the world since 2013, he has had his fair share of challenging races. What defines Kipchoge as a great competitor is his mentality. He's stated on multiple occasions that struggles are good in life, especially in sports, because you eventually realize that any struggle is not permanent. If you struggle then treat it in a good way and you'll actually come back again stronger. And he has proven this on multiple occasions.

At the 2020 London Marathon, he finished an uncharacteristic 8th place. His right ear was fully blocked, causing him to stop going for the drinks, ultimately throwing off his entire focus during the latter part of the race. He rebounded from this disappointing performance by winning the Tokyo Olympic Marathon on August 8th, 2021 by the largest margin of victory (80 seconds) since the 1972 Olympics.

In April 2023, Eliud finished sixth in the Boston Marathon with a time of 2:09:23, his slowest marathon yet. He led most of the race before eventually falling behind to seventh place at the 20th mile. Many assumed Kipchoge's age might have played a factor in his performance, even though he just ran a world record of 2:01:09 at the 2022 Berlin Marathon. Later that year, he rebounded with a sub-2:03 victory at the 2023 Berlin Marathon. His official time of 2:02:42, the fastest time by any Kenyan man in 2023, second only to Kelvin Kiptum's historic world record of 2:00:35 in Chicago.

As part of his preparation for the Paris Olympics, Eliud competed at the 2024 Tokyo Marathon. He took the race out fast, leading the first half of the race at world record pace. He faded during the second half of the race, ultimately finishing in 10th place in 2:06:50. This was his lowest finish in a marathon ever. Thankfully, this didn't keep him from being selected to the Kenyan Olympic team. If Kipchoge repeats the same type of comeback performance like he has previously, we're likely to see another historic performance from him in Paris this August.

Mindset is Key to Kipchoge's Success

Kipchoge's mantra, "No Human is Limited," defines his approach to training and racing. His meticulous preparation and focus on incremental progress highlight his journey towards greatness. In order to be your best, he has followed three key principles: taking things step-by-step, learning self-discipline and remaining curious. He, along with his coach, Patrick Sang, believe anyone can become their best if they follow these principles. Even though Kipchoge's regiment isn't possible for most, he provides an example of how to achieve bigger goals when you will make a conscious decision to move away from things that aren't aiding your overall progression.

Chasing 3rd Gold Medal in Marathon

As Kipchoge prepares for his fifth Olympic appearance, he aims for an unprecedented third consecutive gold medal in the marathon and a fifth Olympic medal. His selection to the Kenyan Olympic team marks not only a personal milestone but is also a testament to his commitment to the sport of running. His journey to the Paris Olympic Marathon represents the culmination of decades of dedication and resilience. You can watch Eliud chase Olympic history on August 10th, 2024 followed by the women's marathon on August 11th.

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