by Eliud Kipchoge insists he will only be convinced to retire when he sees the whole world putting on his sneakers.
The Kenyan, 40, is the latest high-profile athlete announced to take part in this year’s London Marathon, an event he has won four times, a record in the elite men’s category.
Kipchoge took time to reset after failing to complete a marathon for the first time in his career at the Paris 2024 Olympics, but he now feels ready to challenge the world’s best in April.
Asked if his sixth attempt in London could be the crowning achievement of his storied career, Kipchoge replied: “No. I’ll talk more when I finish the marathon. Now I focus on training, just on fitness and on my muscles, to be ready for the start line in London.
“I don’t like to mix certain things. I’m learning to put my mind on the road, making sure my muscles are lean and ready to take on the streets of London. And the rest will come.
Kipchoge won Olympic gold in the marathon at the Rio 2016 Olympics and carried on to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, as well as 11 career victories at the Abbott World Marathon Majors events – the highest level in the world.
His four wins in London came during an unbeaten streak from 2015 to 2019 – Kipchoge skipped the 2017 edition – before an ear infection contributed to an eighth-place finish in 2020.
Kipchoge will face a tough field, including Ethiopian Olympic marathon gold medalist Tamirat Tola and reigning London Marathon champion Alexander Mutiso Munyao of Kenya.
His British challengers include last year’s bronze medalist Emile Cairess, who narrowly missed out on the podium in Paris, and Olympic triathlon gold medalist Alex Yee, who is making his competitive marathon debut.
“Yeah, I still think I can compete,” Kipchoge said. “I train well and I can compete with the younger guys. It’s a huge inspiration to see younger people running, training hard, running hard.
“Overall, longevity is key. There is no shortcut. If you want to be a real, true professional runner, then longevity should actually be on your bucket list. And that’s what I tell young people.
When asked when he would retire, Kipchoge simply replied: “When you convince me that the world has become a racing world, I will retire.” when there are four billion people running every day, I will retire.”
Kipchoge hopes to share a meal or coffee with Yee, 26, who named the Kenyan as one of his heroes.
“I’m going to tell him what I think about running and why running will help the whole world,” Kipchoge said. “So I think the discussion will actually be about humanity, about the love of the sport of running. I think it will be a pure discussion.
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In 2019, Kipchoge became the first human to run under two hours over a marathon distance in 1:59:40.2, but the feat could not count as a world record because the event and setup did not were not ratified by World Athletics.
The official world record of 2h00’35” was set in 2023 by his fellow Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum, who died in a car accident last February.
Kipchoge has ruled himself out of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics but says he plans to launch some sort of new experiment, but said his lips are sealed until he crosses the finish line in London .
He added: “I will do something that will have a huge, huge impact before I leave.
“In Africa we say we chase one rabbit at a time. This rabbit is on the road in front of me, it’s the London Marathon, it’s what I’m putting all my mind, heart and energy into.
“After that, I will make a new announcement. Keep watching.
