PARIS — Eliud Kipchoge became only the third man to win back-to-back Olympic marathon crowns at the Tokyo Games last year but the 37-year-old Kenyan said he wants the record all to himself and will go for gold once again at Paris 2024.
“I trust that all things will carry me well up to 2024 to present myself at the starting line,” Kipchoge, who shattered his own world record at the Berlin Marathon last month, told the BBC.
“What I like is history. To be the first human being to run back-to-back-to-back for three times and win Olympic marathon gold medal, it’s my bucket list,” he added according to Reuters.
Kipchoge is the only man to run a sub-two-hour marathon when he clocked 1:59.40 on a specially designed track in Vienna in 2019 but the time is not officially recognised as it was not set in competition.
Kipchoge said he needs adequate time to internalise his landmark performance in Berlin a fortnight ago before he can contemplate his next move.
“I believe in setting one goal at a time. It makes it easier to achieve a task before focusing on the next one. My target this year was to break the world record and I managed to live the dream,” said the two-time Olympic marathon champion.
“I’ll now focus on recovery as I internalise my performance in Berlin. But the most important thing is that I am healthy and will be around for some time, God willing.”
Kipchoge arrived on the national carrier, Kenya Airways, alongside the newly-crowned London Marathon champion Amos Kipruto and Joyciline Jepkosgei, who finished second in the women’s race in London on Sunday.
The trio was hosted by Kenya Airways at the Plaza Premier Lounge at Heathrow International Airport before being flown home in the premier class. The Boeing 787-7 touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at dawn.
“It’s great and humbling when we are flown, recognised or welcomed home in style. It should happen quite often,” said Kipchoge.
Kipruto said being flown back home was a humbling and exhilarating experience, adding that he was elated to have clinched his first World Marathon Majors race on his debut appearance.
Kipruto destroyed a strong field to break the tape in 2:04:39.
“The outcome meant a lot for me. I finally made it after several attempts,” Kipruto said.
Kenya Airways said they were honoured to associate with the world-beaters.
“Our flight from London to Nairobi this morning was a ‘flight of champions,” said the airline in a statement on their social media pages.
“We were privileged to have onboard: Eliud Kipchoge – World Marathon ‘GOAT’, 2022 Berlin Marathon winner and record holder, 2022 London Marathon winner, Amos Kipruto, Joyciline Jepkosgei – 2nd place 2022 Women’s London Marathon winner and fellow marathoner Judith Korir.”
“It is always an honour to fly our champions as they fly the Kenyan flag high. Congratulations and welcome back.”
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