Legendary Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge will race in the Sydney Marathon

Eliud Kipchoge, the legendary Kenyan runner and arguably the greatest marathoner in history, has announced his participation in the Sydney Marathon in August, which is undoubtedly a boon for the event. This news has certainly elevated the prestige of the race and attracted global attention, setting the stage for an exciting competition.

The 40-year-old marathon master, who won consecutive Olympic marathon titles in 2016 and 2020, and is the only person to have run a sub-two-hour marathon in an unofficial race, stated that he is delighted to participate in the Sydney Marathon in its first year as part of the World Marathon Majors. This will be his first time competing in the Oceania region, and event organizers have described his participation as a "dream come true," highlighting the significance of his presence.

After a disastrous 2024, Kipchoge is trying to prove that he is still the undisputed master of the marathon. He finished only 10th in the Tokyo Marathon, his lowest ranking in a marathon event in his career. Subsequently, he dropped out of the Paris Olympic marathon at mile 19 while attempting to win his third consecutive title. "I am very excited," Kipchoge said in a statement, "This is not only my first time running the TCS Sydney Marathon, but also my first time running in the Oceania region. Running in Australia is a great opportunity for me."

Kipchoge has achieved 16 victories in 21 official marathon races, including a 10-race winning streak from 2014 to 2019. Before the Sydney Marathon, he will first attempt to return to winning form at the London Marathon on April 27, to make up for his disappointment in Paris. Kipchoge's official best time is 2:01:09, set in Berlin in 2022, which ranks second in history. He also ran a time of 1:59:40 in a special race in Vienna, but that time was not officially recognized because the race rules differed from official races.

Sydney Marathon Event Director Wayne Larden, speaking about Kipchoge's participation, said: "A dream has come true. His arrival will elevate the event to new heights, bringing unprecedented excitement, prestige and global attention." Kipchoge, later in his career, has made it his mission to promote marathon running to a global audience. "I am excited to meet the fans, and I am excited to promote the idea of 'making the world a running world' and promoting marathon running to Australia, a running nation," he said. In addition, he has a bigger wish in Australia: "I especially want to see kangaroos, and I don't want to come to Australia and miss the opportunity to see kangaroos."