'We Are Spoilt for Choice' - Paul Tergat Confident in Kenya’s Marathon as Eliud Kipchoge Winds Down Career

Marathon legend Paul Tergat believes there won’t be any void in Kenya athletics as double Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge enters the later stages of his illustrious career.

Tergat who serves as the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) president, believes the country has enough talent to continue with the records that Kipchoge boasts of as far as marathon is concerned.

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“In Kenya, we're spoiled for choice. When we talk about the pool of talent, sometimes you don't even know who to pick,” former men’s world record holder Tergat told Olympics.com.

Kenya is renowned for producing marathoners. Last November, Ruth Chepngetich set the women’s new world record at the 2024 Chicago Marathon.

More recently, two other Kenyan runners, John Korir and Sharon Lokedi, triumphed in the 2025 Boston Marathon, continuing the African country’s winning tradition over the 42.192km distance.

Kipchoge, the fastest living marathon runner, will take part in the 2025 London Marathon this Sunday.

Tergat showed his full support for Kipchoge’s decision to continue competing: “Kipchoge is a legend, he has achieved so much in his career as an athlete. The idea of continuing to inspire others is a good one and we love that,” he said.

“I’m happy that Kipchoge has that idea, he wants to still continue to inspire others not by being number one, but by remaining active in sports and giving back.”

Tergat, who has been in NOCK leadership since 2017, is particularly proud for the results achieved at the Olympic Games Paris 2024: “We were at the top of Africa, but also when it now comes to individual sports within the Olympic movement, like athletics, we were ranked number two globally behind the United States,” he said.

Kenya won a total of 11 medals (all in athletics), including four golds. Ten medals were won by women, with Beatrice Chebet achieving a double in the 5,000m/10,000m.