Gabriel Geay on beating Eliud Kipchoge & relationship with the late Kelvin Kiptum

Gabriel Geay on beating Eliud Kipchoge & relationship with the late Kelvin Kiptum

Abigael Wafula 05:44 - 15.04.2024

Tanzanian Marathon star Gabriel Geay has opened up on the relationship he shared with the late Kelvin Kiptum and how it felt beating Eliud Kipchoge in the Boston Marathon.

Tanzania’s marathon ace Gabriel Geay has opened up on beating Eliud Kipchoge at the 2022 Boston Marathon and the special relationship he shared with the late Kelvin Kiptum.

Kiptum tragically lost his life in a late-night accident near his home on Sunday 11 February, in which his Rwandan coach, Gervais Hakizimana, also passed away.

Geay, who occasionally trains in Kenya, formed his relationship with the late Kiptum during those times and was also able to compete against him during the 2021 Valencia Half Marathon.

The Tanzanian disclosed that they travelled together to Valencia and were able to spend a lot of time together. Speaking to the Olympics.com, Geay admitted that he greatly admired the zeal Kiptum had.

“Valencia was special for us, we had both raced in the 2021 half marathon there before that amazing marathon run in 2022. I was privileged to know him, a lovely person he was.

“Then racing him when he was at his peak…it was obvious that there was still so much more he could have achieved…,” he said.

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He revealed that the news of Kiptum’s passing broke his heart and he is still struggling to come to terms with that. He was among the dozens of athletes who attended the funeral of the fallen world marathon record holder.

“The news of his death hit me hard...It was shocking and devastating. It took me a while for the news to sink in. I couldn’t even train that day…After Chicago, I had longed to see what else he could achieve in marathon running,” Geay said.

Speaking on beating Kipchoge, Geay disclosed that he usually does well in most hilly courses and he was confident of impressing at the Boston Marathon.

“I remember Kipchoge going out fast at the 10km, I was not worried at all. Being Kipchoge I knew he likes to take charge early, ‘but this is Boston’ I thought.

“I made my move at the 31km point, I decided, ‘let me pace the field and see who follows’. Some of the Kenyan runners followed me, but Kipchoge didn’t,” he said.

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