Eliud Kipchoge 'Not Suprised' by Kelvin Kiptum's World Record

The double Olympic marathon champion Eluid Kipchoge says he is not surprised by Kelvin Kiptum's breaking his marathon world record.

Receiving the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, Kipchoge highlighted the competitive spirit of sports and recognized his own place as an inspiration for future athletes. His reflections followed Kiptum's world record, a triumph that reminds us of Kipchoge's own history of having set the record twice already. Kipchoge made these statements while speaking at the historic awards ceremony in Oviedo, Spain. The Princess of Asturias Awards, formerly known as the Prince of Asturias Awards, are bestowed upon individuals, entities, or organizations from around the world who have made significant contributions to the fields of sciences, humanities, and public affairs.

23-year-old Kiptum, a mere rookie in the marathon game, outdid Kipchoge's previous record of 2:01:09 set in Berlin on September 25, 2022. Chicago witnessed a stunning milestone as it welcomed its first world record since Ethiopian-born Moroccan athlete Khalid Khannouchi's blazing feat on October 24, 1999, with a timing of 2:05:42. In 2018, Eliud Kipchoge broke Dennis Kimetto's world record in the Berlin marathon, finishing in 2:01:39. He later improved upon the performance by a further 30 seconds, displaying immense dedication to his craft.

However, Kelvin Kiptum has surpassed Kipchoge, lowering the marathon world record by 34 seconds and also damaging Kipchoge's prior accomplishment. Nonetheless, Kiptum affirmed his exceptional qualities during the London Marathon, grabbing the accolade of the second-fastest marathoner worldwide. Of course, Kipchoge, much like Kiptum, puts in the effort to boost Kenya's reputation in athletics across the globe, expecting to put the icing on the cake at the 2024 Olympic marathon event.

Kipchoge spoke about this ambition during a press conference in Oviedo, Spain, stating that it would make him the happiest person on earth. Having triumphed in Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021, Eliud Kipchoge has now secured his third Olympic marathon gold medal. This remarkable achievement places him in an esteemed position, making him only the second Kenyan athlete to claim this victory at the Olympics, following in the footsteps of the late Samuel Wanjiru in the 2008 Beijing Games.