Eliud Kipchoge turns down idea of coaching once running career is over
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 11.07.26. | 07:15
The 41-year-old is currently undertaking his World Tour, which will see him run a marathon in Brazil this weekend
Kenyan marathon great Eliud Kipchoge does not plan to pursue coaching once his athletics career is over, but instead plans to simply inspire the young generation.
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Kipchoge, 41, is undoubtedly in the latter stages of his marathon career, and given the wealth of knowledge he possesses on road and track, many would think it is a perfect fit for him to transition to coaching.
Speaking in the days leading up to his participation at the NB42K Porto Alegre Marathon in Brazil on Sunday, 12 July - which is his second stop of his global Eliud's Running World project - the two-time Olympic gold medalist had a straight answer.
“My answer is no,” Kipchoge told Olympics.com on taking up coaching. “I want to inspire more people than coach people. Coaching means I would concentrate on five or 10 people. I want to inspire millions.”
Inspiration has always been a part of Kipchoge, ranging from his personal initiatives at home and beyond, and is the central theme of his Tour, which will see him run seven marathons across all continents, over the next two years.
After participating at the Cape Town Marathon, where he finished 16th in a time of 2:13.29, Kipchoge returns to familiar surroundings in Brazil, the country he won his first Olympic title in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
“Brazil has a special place for me, and it will remain in my mind forever,” Kipchoge said. “That’s where I started to build my reputation [proper] as far as the marathon is concerned.”
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As witnessed in South Africa this year, Kipchoge’s global allure is like any other, a picture also seen across this week, when a female runner was in tears upon meeting the first man to run a marathon under two hours, albeit unofficially.
“My main reason for going to Brazil is mainly to be near the fans for the days I will be there,” Kipchoge, who will for the second time run a marathon alongside his wife Grace Sugut, said. “My transition from competing for Big-City Marathons, competing for world records and for medals, to now running for a purpose has been a beautiful thing for me. I am happy about it and have no regrets at all.”