Kenenisa Bekele Sets Up Clash of Legends With Eliud Kipchoge as He Makes Late Entry Into Final Marathon of 2025

Distance running fans are in for a treat as Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele has been added to the elite men's field for the 2025 New York City Marathon, setting the stage for a potential final clash with his great rival, Eliud Kipchoge.

With less than two weeks until race day, organisers announced that Bekele will replace the injured 2022 champion, Evans Chebet. This late addition reignites one of the most compelling rivalries in the history of the sport, spanning two decades from the track to the roads.

The two titans have met five times over the 26.2-mile distance, with Kenya's Kipchoge holding a dominant 4-1 record. Bekele's sole marathon victory over Kipchoge came at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he finished 39th as Kipchoge was forced to withdraw with a hip problem.

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Their head-to-head battles date back to their teenage years. In their first encounter at the 2003 Bislett Games, a 21-year-old Bekele narrowly defeated an 18-year-old Kipchoge in the 5,000m. Kipchoge, however, claimed a memorable victory later that summer, winning the 5,000m gold at the World Championships in Paris, leaving Bekele with the bronze.

On the track, Bekele generally had the upper hand, winning 11 of their 13 races over 5,000m and 10,000m. But as they transitioned to marathon running, the narrative shifted dramatically. Kipchoge established himself as the undisputed king of the distance, twice setting the world record and becoming a global icon.

Despite their age, both athletes continue to compete at the highest level. Bekele recently demonstrated his enduring class at the 2024 London Marathon, setting a new masters (40+) world record with a stunning time of 2:04:15. Together, they boast an incredible collection of accolades: five Olympic gold medals, six world titles, and 13 Abbott World Marathon Major wins.

While this will be Kipchoge's debut in New York—the final race in his quest to win all six World Marathon Majors—Bekele is no stranger to the city's challenging course. He last competed here in 2021, finishing sixth.

As the sun sets on their illustrious careers, the race on November 2 offers a fitting stage for what could be the last chapter in a rivalry that has defined an era of distance running.