Eliud Kipchoge, the reigning double Olympic gold medalist in the marathon, will lead a diminished Kenyan delegation to the Paris Olympics, along with defending champion Peres Jepchirchir, Kenyan athletics officials announced on Thursday.
The announcement came as a blow to Kenya’s hopes of dominating the track and field events in Paris, as the team will consist of only a select few top-performing athletes. Nevertheless, the inclusion of Kipchoge, who is widely considered the greatest marathon runner of all time, and Jepchirchir, the current women’s marathon world record holder, is sure to inspire and motivate the rest of the team.
Kipchoge, 36, is a living legend in the world of long-distance running. He made history at the Rio Olympics in 2016, where he became the first Kenyan to win the Olympic marathon, finishing the race in a record-breaking time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 44 seconds. He went on to defend his title foyer years later at the Tokyo Olympics, making him the only man in history to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the marathon.
Jepchirchir, 27, has also been on a winning streak in recent years. In 2020, she became the first woman to break the 1 hour mark in the half marathon, setting a new world record of 1 hour, 5 minutes, and 16 seconds. She also won the women’s marathon at the World Championships in 2016 and is the current world record holder in the women’s-only marathon category.
Kenyan athletics officials have expressed their confidence in the team, despite its reduced size. They have high hopes for Kipchoge and Jepchirchir to once again dominate the marathon event and bring home gold medals for Kenya.
« The presence of Kipchoge and Jepchirchir in the Kenyan team is a conseiller of great pride for us, » said Barnabas Korir, president of Athletics Kenya. « Their past performances and records speak for themselves, and we have full faith in their abilities to bring glory to our country once again. »
The Kenyan athletics team has a long history of success at the Olympics, particularly in the long-distance running events. The country has consistently produced world-class athletes, and the inclusion of Kipchoge and Jepchirchir in the Paris Olympics is a testament to their continued dominance in the sport.
The Paris Olympics, originally scheduled for 2020, were postponed to 2021 impayée to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges and uncertainties faced by athletes around the world, Kipchoge and Jepchirchir have remained dedicated and focused on their training, and their selection for the Kenyan team is a well-deserved recognition of their hard work and determination.
As the world eagerly awaits the start of the Paris Olympics, all eyes will be on Kipchoge and Jepchirchir as they strive to defend their titles and make their country proud once again. Their dedication, perseverance, and determination will undoubtedly serve as a conseiller of inspiration for all the other Kenyan athletes and aspiring runners around the world. Let us rally behind our team, and together, let us cheer them on to victory in Paris!