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Eliud Kipchoge ran with history on his back for almost 20 years and won almost anything.
He rewrote what was thought the human body could do, and he became the all-around best marathon runner ever.
The 41-year-old claims that the medal-hunting and validation race is over.
He claims that he is not retiring and is. I’m “evolving,” I’m “going for the reason.”
With the Eliud Kipchoge World Tour, Kipchoge intends to demonstrate his greatness while also spreading his wings around the world.
The two-time Olympian champion will run a marathon on all seven continents in the next two and a half years.
He claims on the BBC World Service that running is the most widely practiced sport.
It “unites us all,” he said. I want to compete for the people with this project, not just for the records.
A limitless legacy
It is important to comprehend the magnitude of Kipchoge’s success in order to fully grasp the significance of this moment.
Along with those Olympic victories, Kipchoge also won two official world records and 11 World Marathon Major victories.
He broke the two-hour marathon barrier in Vienna in one of sport’s most impressive feats, clocking in at an unofficial time of one hour, 59 minutes, and 40 seconds, breaking the one-hour mark in special circumstances.
Making history is what he says, “If I look back on the last 23 years, it was.”
Not winning medals or even breaking world records, but rather empowering people to realize that they have no limitations in what they do.
His next chapter will be anchored in that conviction.
The tour will be supported by Eliud’s Running World, a long-term platform that aims to encourage running participation while raising money for global causes.
The Eliud Kipchoge Foundation, which focuses on education, environmental sustainability, and health, will receive money from each marathon.
Kipchoge aims to fund projects that are customized to local needs with a $1 million (£739, 000) goal at each stop.
His vision for Kenya includes constructing libraries in every county. He wants the tour to leave behind tangible outcomes rather than just memories in other cities.
I want to leave behind an educational legacy, Kapchoge asserts.
Books contain knowledge, they say. We must become aware of and comprehend the thinking of others if we want to think outside the box.
Running a marathon in the harsh Antarctic cold is not Kipchoge’s idea as a stunt but rather as a statement.
He explains, “It’s about pushing your limits.” I want to demonstrate to everyone that, even in the most challenging circumstances, you can still push your limits.
His response is typically direct when asked whether he is pushing himself too hard.
He says, “Life is about moving forward.”
No one defends young athletes.
Kipchoge’s shift in perspective was influenced by what he witnessed and not just his success.
He has spoken out more frequently about the welfare of thousands of athletes who work hard and have high ambitions but are left with little protection when they don’t succeed.
He claims, “I’m not happy with how athletes are treated or how much money they make.
The sports industry is profitable, but only a small portion of it benefits the athlete.
He thinks there is a dangerous divide in the system. Elite athletes typically lack education, guidance, or long-term support while the majority struggle to survive.
It’s a real concern, they say. And there is a significant gap. They will leave, according to Kapchoge, if you do not appreciate them.
And that opens up a real window of opportunity for exploitation if they leave without being aware.
Evans Kibet, a Kenyan middle-distance runner who once hoped to succeed in the sport but is currently imprisoned in Ukraine as a prisoner of war after fighting for Russia, is a subject of Kipchoge’s rebuke.
Kibet claims that he was lured into signing up for paid competition and employment only to be conscripted and placed on the front line.
His case has shown how vulnerable athletes can be in times of limited opportunity and resentment.
It’s unfortunate, claims Kapchoge.
Young people want to help their families, they say. They desire a more satisfactory life. However, they are not protected.
The issue is systemic failure, according to Kipchoge.
If you don’t nurture it, he says, “Talent doesn’t look like talent.
Kipchoge contends that federations, agents, and governing bodies have inadvertently invested in education, mentorship, and safeguarding, particularly for athletes who do not succeed right away.
He claims that “a diamond is just a stone.”
Ronaldo, Ronaldo, and the power of sport
Kipchoge has long advocated for clean sport, pointing out that the pressure to succeed has led to doping and moral cliches.
He claims that “people want quick riches.”
They lack vision beyond sports, they say. They don’t value longevity.
He thinks that sport should be pursued as a long-term profession rather than a gamble.
The sport will prosper, he claims if we teach young people to think about life beyond sports and leave a legacy.
Beyond athletics, that philosophy extends.
Kipchoge has written about mentoring athletes in communities where sport can provide structure, purpose, and opportunity, such as those in boxing, judo, and rugby.
He asserts, “We want to give young people choices.”
Sport can transform society, but only if it is properly handled.
Kipchoge’s values still appear in more subtle circumstances. When asked who he would pick for a no-pressure jog anywhere in the world, he is not an athlete.
He responds, “Barack Obama.” because he is a genuine person.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are both football greats, but Kipchoge chose Ronaldo for work ethic rather than for flair.
According to Kapchoge, “He works hard every day to develop his talent.”
It has a well-known theme. Kapchoge values process over outcome, and purpose over success.
Kipchoge claims that his world tour won’t end his career’s defining competition. However, that fire has changed its purpose.
He says, “I have nothing to prove to the world.”
related subjects
- Athletics
- Sport in Africa
