A look at Eliud Kipchoge's glittering career as he calls time on elite racing
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Reading Time: 5min | Tue. 04.11.25. | 18:05
Kipchoge is perhaps the most recognisable distance runner in the world and earned, with little debate, the nickname “the GOAT.”
For more than a decade, Eliud Kipchoge has been the dominant figure in the marathon scene, setting two world records, winning a similar number of Olympic titles, and breaking the seemingly untouchable two-hour barrier in an unofficial exhibition race in Vienna, Austria.
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He is perhaps the most recognisable distance runner in the world and earned, with little debate, the nickname “the GOAT.”
But in recent years, leading to his exit from elite racing, we have seen chinks in his once-impenetrable armour.
Kipchoge has not achieved a podium finish since his 2:02:42 winning run at the 2023 Berlin Marathon, a year before his countryman, the late Kelvin Kiptum, improved his world record to 2:00:35 in Chicago.
The 2023 Boston Marathon was the slowest of his career (2:09:23). He rebounded in Berlin later that year, winning in 2:02:42.
But in 2024, he struggled again, finishing 10th at the Tokyo Marathon in March (his worst finish at a major) and dropping out of the Paris Olympics in August due to pain in his waist.
Kipchoge, however, remains an optimist
A fierce competitor, he has embraced his de facto role as an ambassador for running. His life’s mission, he has often said, is to encourage people across the world to take up running, not only for its physical health benefits but also for its positive effect on the mind.
Many thought that after the Paris setback, the marathon great would finally call time on his career. But he proved them wrong.
This year, he competed in several races, including the Sydney Marathon, where he finished ninth, and the New York Marathon, where he finished 17th. That marked his first time racing in New York, and his last elite race.
Even if he did not finish first, there was still something gained for Kipchoge. He joined a list of over 4,000 running enthusiasts who have completed all seven World Marathon Majors: Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, New York, Sydney, and Tokyo.
New York City, November, and Kipchoge
There was no better place and time to witness the curtains closing on one of the greatest marathon careers the world has ever seen.
He was honoured with the Seven Star Hall of Fame, which honours runners who have completed the marked World Marathon Majors: Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City.
Kipchoge's most successful Major destination to date is Berlin, which he has won five times, including two world record runs.
He has now unveiled an ambitious new project, the Eliud Kipchoge World Tour, which will see him compete in seven marathons across seven continents over the next two years.
The initiative marks a new chapter in the two-time Olympic champion’s storied career, combining elite racing with a mission to “unite the world through running.”
Each stop on the tour will also raise funds for the Eliud Kipchoge Foundation, which supports education and environmental projects around the globe.
Launched in 2020, the Foundation focuses on providing access to education and promoting environmental sustainability. Local projects in each host country will benefit from the events, supporting initiatives such as school libraries, learning programs, and environmental restoration.
The tour is the first major venture under Eliud’s Running World, a long-term platform through which Kipchoge plans to inspire participation in running and raise awareness for global causes.
His background
Born in 1984 in Kapsisiywa, Nandi County, Kenya, Kipchoge began his journey in athletics at a tender age, showing promise as a long-distance runner in his formative years. Over time, he achieved feats once considered impossible, breaking barriers and setting new standards in the marathon world.
He made his Olympic debut at just 19 years old during the 2004 Athens Games, already a world champion, and added a bronze medal in the men’s 5000m. Four years later, he upgraded that to silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
His name became synonymous with marathon greatness in 2014 when he claimed his first marathon victory in Rotterdam, setting the stage for a dominant career.
Since then, he has consistently defied the odds, winning an astounding 15 of the 18 marathons he has entered and claiming titles in nearly all the World Marathon Majors, including London, Chicago, and Berlin.
Kipchoge won his first Olympic gold medal in the gruelling marathon at Rio 2016, by that point already a four-time World Marathon Majors champion.
He successfully defended his Olympic title at the Tokyo 2020 Games (held in 2021), becoming only the third marathoner in history to win back-to-back Olympic marathon golds.
In addition to his Olympic success, Kipchoge set his first world record at the 2018 Berlin Marathon, finishing in 2:01:39 and shattering the previous mark by an astonishing 78 seconds. In 2022, he broke his own record again in Berlin with a time of 2:01:09.
While his official world records have captured headlines, Kipchoge’s most unforgettable achievement remains his historic run in Vienna, Austria, on October 12, 2019.
In a specially arranged event, the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, Kipchoge became the first human to complete a marathon in under two hours, finishing in 1:59:40.
Although the event did not meet the conditions required for an official world record, the feat was widely celebrated as one of the most significant moments in sports history. It proved that barriers could be broken and inspired athletes and fans across the world.
Kipchoge twice held the official world marathon record, even breaking his own by 30 seconds, holding the accolade for five years before it was surpassed by the late Kelvin Kiptum.
Awards and Recognition
Kipchoge’s influence and accomplishments have earned him numerous accolades, including being named the IAAF World Athlete of the Year in 2019.
He was also honoured with the Laureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough of the Year in 2020, recognising his boundary-breaking feats in marathon running.
