Kipchoge signs long-term performance partnership with INEOS

Two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge and British multinational chemicals company INEOS have re-united in a deal agreement that will see both sides benefit from sharing knowledge and experience across the different sports

INEOS served as a hugely successful partner to Kipchoge and the NN Running Team in 2019 as the driving force behind the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, the event where Kipchoge ran the world’s first sub 2-hour marathon in stunning fashion.

Evergreen Kipchoge aiming for third Olympic Marathon gold medal in Paris 2024

They have since worked together on a number of successful legacy projects before the new deal that has roped in Kipchoge's team NN Running Team too. 

The deal is a reunion of INEOS Chairman and CEO Jim Ratcliffe, the driving force behind the INEOS 1:59 Challenge and Eliud, the greatest marathon runner in history.

INEOS has an extensive portfolio across the global sports landscape and boasts some of the world’s most pre-eminent sporting teams which includes the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, INEOS Grenadiers cycling team, America’s Cup Challenger of Record INEOS Britannia, OGC Nice and FC Lausanne-Sport.

"To receive the support from such a great entity in sports is a huge boost to myself and the team. We have had a wonderful relationship since we first started working together and have already changed the world together once. 

I am excited to keep breaking barriers with the support of INEOS on our side. I believe that we can make a strong impact across all sports by sharing our knowledge and experiences with each other. To utilize the greatest minds in sports will continue to allow us to keep pushing the boundaries of running. I am very excited for the future ahead," said Kipchoge. 

Jos Hermens, CEO Global Sports Communication who manage the marathoner, said: “I have always worked hard to improve on the services for our athletes and with INEOS stepping in we can again make the next steps in our sport. It makes me incredibly proud and happy. With the NN Running Team a dream came true, and I believe we are only at the beginning of how we can improve and grow our sport.”

Valentijn Trouw, performance Director of the NN Running Team said they had built a performance environment in which they offer support to athletes to reach the best of their potential. "The continuation of the partnership with INEOS, will help us grow in future ambitions. On a daily basis we still see the effects of the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, the inspiration, the exposure and the performance insights gained throughout the project. I am looking forward to the insights we can mutually share and benefit from in the upcoming years.”

The NN Running team is known to drive innovation within the world of running. It offers a new level of fan engagement and has connected millions of runners around the world. The team proved to be innovative and flexible in Covid-19 times by organising their own events to make sure its athletes could perform on top of their game during the peak moments of a vastly disrupted season.

The team also brought together 100,000+ runners in the digital and award winning event MA RA TH ON and by producing captivating documentaries to inspire the fanbase in times where sports were having a difficult time.

Adding INEOS to the commercial landscape of the team shows that the team concept adds value to the sport. Driven by performance, showcasing its athletes and the human side of sport attracts a group of sponsors that believe in the mission of the team.

“When you grow, it is important to grow in the right direction. With INEOS joining us we are taking the next step in building the team concept in athletics. It has proved to be an attractive commercial landscape for new partners to join. We continue to show the human side of our athletes and their results, since it attracts the right fans and sponsors that support our mission. This will help us to grow our team and our sport in the right direction.” added NN Running Team Marketing Director, Marleen Vink-Rennings.