Eliud Kipchoge yet to congratulate Kelvin Kiptum after breaking his marathon record

© Eliud Kipchoge Twitter

ATHLETICS Eliud Kipchoge yet to congratulate Kelvin Kiptum after breaking his marathon record

Festus Chuma 07:00 - 10.10.2023

Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge's silence after Kelvin Kiptum's world record raises questions, as the running world awaits his acknowledgment.

It is now more than 72 hours since Kelvin Kiptum broke the marathon world record to win the Chicago Marathon in an unofficial 2 hours and 35 seconds.

However, amid the jubilation and accolades pouring in from various quarters, the silence from Eliud Kipchoge, the reigning marathon maestro, is becoming more conspicuous by the day.

The 23-year-old Kiptum stunned the world by shattering Kipchoge's world record of 2:01:09, set at the 2022 Berlin Marathon.

Notable figures, including President Ruto, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, and even legendary athletes like Paul Tergat, and Ferdinand Omanyala have extended their congratulations to the young marathon sensation. Yet, Kipchoge, who has held the marathon world in awe with his extraordinary feats, remains silent.

Kipchoge, the only person known to have completed 26.2 miles in under two hours, achieved the remarkable feat in 2019 when he clocked 1:59:40.2 in Vienna, Austria. His prowess in the marathon world has earned him respect and admiration globally. However, his conspicuous silence after Kiptum's historic win is raising eyebrows in the athletics community.

While the world eagerly awaited a congratulatory message from Kipchoge, the running legend's social media handles have remained dormant. His last post, dated October 4, simply stated, "Enjoying my days off at home in Kenya." The absence of any acknowledgment or praise for Kiptum's achievement has become a talking point in the athletics fraternity.

Kiptum, the youngest marathoner to have run under 2:02:00, obliterated a star-studded field of elite athletes at the 2023 London Marathon, securing his second marathon victory ever with a time of 2:01:25. This impressive feat, just 16 seconds shy of Kipchoge's world record, underscores Kiptum's emergence as a force to be reckoned with in the marathon world.

The men's chase in the London Marathon featured renowned competitors, including Belgium's Bashir Abdi, the marathon bronze medalist from the 2020 Olympics, and the 2022 World Championships. Ethiopian Seifu Tura, the 2021 Chicago winner and last year's runner-up, was also in the mix. The event attracted over 47,000 runners, making it the largest runner field in the history of the Chicago Marathon.

As congratulations flood in from various quarters, the absence of a message from Kipchoge to Kiptum is creating a buzz in the sports community. The question on many minds is, why the silence from the marathon icon? Is it a mark of humility, a deliberate choice, or perhaps an oversight in the midst of his personal commitments?

In the world of sportsmanship, acknowledgment of fellow athletes' achievements is a common practice. Kipchoge's silence, however, seems to be breaking this tradition.

As the marathon community eagerly anticipates a statement or message from the running legend, the silence continues to speak louder than words.

Whether Kipchoge will eventually break his silence and extend his congratulations to Kiptum remains a captivating subplot in the aftermath of this record-breaking marathon.