Kenyan marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge has enumerated what he considers his best-ever achievement and it is not Olympics gold or his two world records.
Eliud Kipchoge has broken two world marathon records, won as many Olympics titles and claimed victories in 15 of the 20 marathons he has participated in but none of it ranks higher for him.
Kipchoge is considered the greatest ever marathon runner of all time given his success over the 42km race since he made his debut in 2013 with his wins on various courses making him a revered athlete and inspiration to many.
However, for Kipchoge, his greatest ever achievement is not even an official race but whose significance he feels will transcend generations.
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Kipchoge became the first man to run a marathon under two hours when he clocked 1:59:40 in Vienna, Austria in October 2019 in what was dubbed INEOS 1:59 Challenge.
Competing against the clock and with pacemakers running in a way designed to ensure wind resistance, Kipchoge clocked a first and only sub-two-hour marathon, although his achievement was not ratified due to the setup of the challenge.
For the 40-year-old, however, no moment in his storied career comes close to what he achieved in Vienna.
“Breaking the two-hour barrier is still the best in my whole career. Making history. You know making history is something that can stay forever,” Kipchoge said during a question-and-answer session with some of his fans from different corners of the world.
While he is still considered the best in his sport, Kipchoge admits he was never focused on becoming the best but rather challenging himself to see if he could hit new heights.
“My mind was not about being the best. My mind was just focused on getting that ticket to reach new heights. You know, to feel like you are flying up in the skies was what was on my mind,” he added, while emphasizing the need to embrace teamwork.
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“Running seems and looks to be individual. Competing alone doesn’t define the real meaning of running. Running is a team event and without a team, you cannot be successful,” said Kipchoge.
Kipchoge has since returned to training as he prepares for a change in fortunes in 2025 after a poor 2024 season that saw him finish 10th at the Tokyo Marathon before dropping out of his Olympics race just after the 30km mark.