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Eliud Kipchoge names heir to his marathon throne
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 19.10.24. | 13:20
In an interview with Runner’s World, the five-time Berlin Marathon champion emphasized that the 26-year-old has a bright future ahead of him
Two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge has backed Daniel Mateiko to achieve greatness in his running career.
For Kipchoge, Mateiko’s talent if well nurtured, could see him wear the G.O.A.T marathon status.
In an interview with Runner’s World, the five-time Berlin Marathon champion emphasized that Mateiko has a bright future ahead of him.
"He has a huge, huge future ahead of him. I’m putting all my money into Mateiko as the future. He is the man to watch, actually, on the road,” Kipchoge noted.
At only 26 years old, Mateiko has already made a name for himself as one of the top half-marathoners in the world.
He set a personal best of 58:26 at the 2021 Valencia Half Marathon, where he finished third, further cementing his status as a rising star in road running.
Mateiko has been working to transition from half marathons to full marathons, following in the footsteps of his legendary mentor Kipchoge.
He made his full marathon debut at the 2023 Chicago Marathon, and although he did not finish the race, had one of the best performances up to the 30km mark. Despite this, Kipchoge remains confident in his protégé.
Earlier that year, Mateiko had also participated in the 2023 London Marathon, where he helped pace the late Kelvin Kiptum to a course record of 2:01:25, further highlighting his ability to compete at the highest level.
While Mateiko has faced challenges in his marathon debut, he has enjoyed success in other competitions.
He represented Kenya at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in the 10,000m, though he fell short of his full potential and finished 11th with a time of 26:50.83. Nonetheless, his earlier victory at the Prefontaine Classic earned him a ticket to the Olympics, showcasing his talent in long-distance track events.
Before the London Marathon, Mateiko also claimed victory at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, adding to his growing list of achievements on the road. His consistency in shorter distances has proven his strength as an elite runner.
He was born into a family of runners and took up athletics in high school at the insistence of his sister Valentine Mateiko, who was already a world-class runner.
He only took up running seriously four years ago and immediately carved his niche as a half marathoner and track athlete.
Just a year after, in 2022, he achieved something so many Kenyan runners still dream of, a top three at the trials, earning a spot in the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
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