Sydney Marathon: Millions Eliud Kipchoge Will Pocket in His First Race in Australia

Kenyan marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge will be the star name at this year’s Sydney Marathon set to take place on Sunday August 31.

Kipchoge, considered the greatest marathoner of all time, signed up for the race early this year a few months after it was made one of the Marathon Majors Series events, joining other elite races like Tokyo, Paris, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.

The 40-year-old will be heading to Sydney after what was an impressive sixth place finish at the London Marathon in April.

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At the Sydney Marathon, Kipchoge and the other elite runners are not just set to pocket a big appearance fee but are also guaranteed millions in prize money if they do well.

The Sydney Marathon has set aside A$30,000 (Ksh2,509,484) for winners of both the elite men and women, with second, third, fourth and fifth places attracting A$20,000 (Ksh1,672,989), A$10,000 (Ksh836,494), A$5,000 (Ksh418,247) and A$2,500 (Ksh209,123) respectively.

Kipchoge is up against training partner Laban Korir, who finished second in Sydney in 2023, and Bjorn Koreman among others as he seeks to win a 12th Marathon Majors Series race of his career.

“The only comparison would be Usain Bolt. When he raced, the stadiums were full. That’s probably the best analogy in athletics terms,” Sydney Marathon race director Wayne Larden told the Sunday Morning Herald on why they invited Kipchoge.

“But Eliud is [the greatest], there is no question he is the greatest marathoner who ever lived. And he is a really great guy, he is a genuine person who is trying to do good in the community. So, it is massively exciting for us to have him running in Sydney.”

The two-time Olympics champion is excited to run Down Under for the first time and is not just looking to win but also inspire Australians into a culture of running.

“I have never stayed there. I have been selling my ideas in Africa, in Europe, in America and South America, and in Asia. But winning a race in that part of the world is crucial to me,” said Kipchoge.

“I have been saying all the time that I want to go across the world and run in every big city, and spread my inspiration to everybody, to make them run. So, it will be a fruitful day.”