Eliud Kipchoge Announces Retirement from Olympic Competition After Unexpected Paris 2024 Setback
Kenya’s marathon icon, Eliud Kipchoge, has declared that he will not participate in any future Olympic Games following a surprising and disappointing performance at Paris 2024, where he missed out on securing his highly anticipated third gold medal.
In an unprecedented turn of events, Kipchoge did not finish the marathon for the first time in his storied career, leaving fans and sports enthusiasts globally in disbelief.
The 39-year-old, celebrated for his marathon prowess, encountered an issue during the race, having to withdraw shortly after the 31-kilometre mark due to discomfort in his waist.
Despite being a strong contender for an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic gold, Kipchoge’s quest was derailed as he fell behind in the later stages of the marathon.
His departure from the race prompted a reflective moment in his career. Though visibly disappointed, Kipchoge remained dignified, acknowledging the conclusion of a significant chapter in his life.
“This is a challenging moment for me,” Kipchoge remarked with visible emotion. “This is my worst marathon. I have never had a DNF (did not finish). That’s life. Like a boxer, I have faced defeats and victories, and now I have a DNF. That’s life.”
With Kipchoge’s exit, Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola took home the gold with a record time of 2:06:26, establishing a new Olympic standard.
Belgium’s Bashit Abdi secured the silver, and Kenya’s Benson Kipruto, making his Olympic debut, claimed the bronze with a time of 2:07:00.
Although Kipchoge had a personal best of 2:01:09 and was part of a competitive field of 14, his performance did not meet the high expectations placed upon him.
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Despite his illustrious career, which includes two previous Olympic gold medals, Kipchoge’s attempt to achieve a third gold was thwarted as he struggled to keep up and ultimately fell to 63rd place before withdrawing.
Kipchoge shared his plans in a heartfelt statement, saying, “You will see me in a different role, perhaps providing motivation, but I will not be running.”
“I’m uncertain about my next steps. I need to return home, reflect on my 21 years of high-level running, and explore new avenues.”
From 2014 to 2023, Kipchoge dominated the marathon scene with 11 major victories, including multiple wins in Berlin (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023) and London (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019). He also has two World Championships’ 5,000m medals—gold in 2003 and silver in 2007—and was a finalist three other times.
Paris was his first major global title win in the 5,000m at the Stade de France in 2003.
The most decorated marathoner, Kipchoge’s accolades include the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports (2023), ANOC Best Male Athlete of Tokyo 2020 (2021), and BBC World Sport Star of the Year (2019). He also received the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (2019) and Laureus Academy’s Exceptional Achievement Award (2019).
Additional honors include IAAF Male Athlete of the Year (2018, 2019), Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022), and AIMS Best Male Marathon Runner (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018).
Kipchoge’s retirement from the Olympic competition marks the end of an era, closing a remarkable chapter in the world of marathon running and leaving a lasting legacy.
Eliud Kipchoge Announces Retirement from Olympic Competition After Unexpected Paris 2024 Setback
