NEW YORK — Eliud Kipchoge will run seven marathons on seven continents over the next two years, as Gabby Thomas aims to return from Achilles injury ahead of a busy 2026 season.
Kipchoge’s “World Tour” was announced after the Kenyan great, a former world record-holder, finished the New York Marathon, crossing the line in 17th in 2hr 14min 36sec to cheers from the Central Park crowd.
“This unprecedented two-year journey will take (Kipchoge) across the world to compete in marathons on all seven continents, while continuing to race at the elite level,” Kipchoge’s management team said in a statement.
“This project aims to inspire the world to become a running world while raising funds for the Eliud Kipchoge Foundation in support of education and environmental causes worldwide, bridging the things that Eliud so deeply cares for,” the statement added according to AFP.
Before the race, the two-time Olympic marathon champion told Olympics.com that he wanted to run in Antarctica, saying his new project was a chance to “do that extreme thing that can make someone work hard.”
Kipchoge said in a statement that his globetrotting project will let him “compete not only for records but for the people.
“I want to continue to push myself to run at my best but I also want to inspire, give back, and remind everyone that no human is limited.”
Elsewhere, three-time Olympic gold medallist Gabby in her signature 200 metres helped the United States to golds in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays at the Paris Games but was forced to miss the Tokyo showcase due to an injury she had been managing since May.
“It’s part of the highs and lows of sports,” said Thomas, speaking from the Women’s Sports Foundation’s annual gala.
“I’ll be training for the beginning of next season… I’ll start my training probably December.”
The Olympic champion, who was on hand to help celebrate Billie Jean King’s signature foundation in New York, has also taken up a major role in the business side of her sport, steering start-up Athlos as a co-owner-advisor.
The women’s-only meet moves from a standalone annual event to a multi-meet league format in 2026 amid a surge of popularity for women’s sport, after enjoying a successful sophomore outing in New York earlier this month.
“We are leading a change in track and field and it’s starting with women and I think that’s really special,” said Gabby according to Reuters.
“We’re at a turning point right now, where there are a lot of interests and eyeballs on women’s sports. And I really, really would love for track and field to take advantage of that and be a part of this moment.”
