Eliud Kipchoge admits to pressure ahead of Sydney Marathon
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 28.08.25. | 17:44
The former world marathon record holder has claimed a staggering 11 victories at Abbott WMM’s with victories in Berlin (five times), London (four times), Tokyo, and Chicago on one previous occasion each
Eliud Kipchoge says the desire to inspire others drove him to enter this weekend’s Sydney Marathon, further admitting there is ‘huge pressure’ on him to win.
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The two-time Olympic champion headlines the field at this year’s race set for Sunday, 31 August, as he competes at the Australian marathon, which serves as the seventh-star stop alongside Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York.
"It's a huge pressure for me to win the race, but there's more pressure for me to inspire more people to take up running," Kipchoge, who is chasing yet another World Marathon Majors (WMM) title, said.
"For me, there's more pressure to show the people in Australia and beyond what's needed to enjoy running and showcase my longevity as far as marathon running is concerned."
The former world marathon record holder has claimed a staggering 11 victories at Abbott WMM’s with victories in Berlin (five times), London (four times), Tokyo, and Chicago on one previous occasion each.
Kipchoge failed to finish a marathon for the first time at the Paris 2024 Olympics, but came back on the road at the London Marathon in April, finishing sixth.
“This is not only my first time racing the TCS Sydney Marathon, but also my first time running in Oceania. Competing in Australia is a huge opportunity for me.
Sydney looks like a stunning city with so many iconic sights. It’s going to be a new and special experience for me,” he continued.
Joining Kipchoge on the start line and looming as a serious contender will be fellow Kenyan Vincent Ngetich, who has never finished lower than fourth in a World Marathon Major.
He finished third behind Kipchoge when he last stood atop the podium at the 2023 Berlin Marathon.
Also lining up at the TCS Sydney Marathon is two-time Tokyo Marathon champion Birhanu Legese, the ninth-fastest performer of all time over the distance and one of only twelve men to have broken the 2:03 barrier, with a personal best of 2:02:48 set at the 2019 BMW Berlin Marathon.
Additionally, Kipchoge’s long-time training partner, Laban Korir, runner-up in Sydney in 2023, and Björn Koreman, who owns a personal best of 2:10:32, add to the elite list’s depth.
Women's Marathon
In the women’s race, reigning Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, who will miss the athletics world championships for the first time in a decade after deciding to run in Sydney, is the favourite.
Hassan, already the third-fastest woman of all time over the distance, won the London and Chicago races in 2023 before last year's Paris triumph but was third in her one previous outing this year in the English capital.
On Sunday, the 32-year-old will take on former world marathon record holder Brigid Kosgei as well as Ethiopian Workenesh Edesa, who won last year's Sydney race in an impressive 2:21:41.
"The city is really beautiful," said Hassan. "I don't know about the course, but I think the winner will love it more."
