Tokyo Marathon 2024: Eliud Kipchoge pays tribute to Kelvin Kiptum ahead of record chase
Two-time Olympic champion and Tokyo race record-holder Eliud Kipchoge appeared visibly taken back when describing the sudden death of fellow Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum.
Athletics
Eliud Kipchoge was almost at a loss for words.
Ahead of his first race since the tragic death of marathon world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum, two-time defending Olympic champion Kipchoge was still distraught when asked about the passing of his Kenyan compatriot.
“I’m sorry and it's unfortunate that he left us,” Kipchoge said on Friday (1 March) ahead of this weekend’s Tokyo Marathon. “His career was in high spirits when he was really running on a high level. It was unfortunate.”
Asked how the absence of Kiptum - who shaved Kipchoge’s old record by 34 seconds to take the tape in 2 hours, 35 seconds at the Chicago Marathon last year - would impact the field at Paris 2024, Kipchoge said, “I think it will be a little bit different because he was record-holder.
“The competition is always high and there are high expectations. But what can we do? You can't control nature.”
The few words Kipchoge had spoke volumes about the cloud that still hung over the running community following the 11 February road accident which claimed the life of 24-year-old Kiptum in his home country.
Siffan Hassan, the track legend who will try to make it three-for-three in the marathon on Sunday, chimed in on Kiptum who she was on the podium with when he broke the record in Chicago.
“The day I heard it I couldn't believe it,” said the double Olympic middle- and long-distance champion who holds the second fastest women's time in history (2:13:44).
“It was never in my mind. I was actually waiting for when he would break a sub-two. So when I heard it, it really broke my heart and that day I was really depressed.
“It's very sad. I ran two marathons and both marathons I shared with him the podium. So when he broke the world record I shared it with him.
“What can you do sometimes if things happen like that? It's just hard but I think for a couple of days it really affected me. He was so young and he was showing the world what is possible but his life passed away.”
Kipchoge is Tokyo’s race record-holder of 2:02:40 and will undoubtedly take centre stage come Sunday, when he is plotting to rewrite his own mark.
When he won Tokyo in 2022, Kipchoge used the victory as a step to a then world record in Berlin later that year. He hopes to use Tokyo as a springboard again, this time to an unprecedented Olympic three-peat in Paris.
“I always believe that every day is a challenge, every race is a challenge,” said Kipchoge, who turns 40 in November. “I try to push myself in every race to show people that setting a goal, internalising it and pushing it to happen.
“I believe that Sunday I'll run a great race with a great time which can actually inspire people.”