President William Ruto has led Kenyans in congratulating marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge after the two-time Olympic champion won the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival in Australia, setting a new course record of 2:09:10.
In a message posted on X on Sunday, Ruto celebrated the 41-year-old athlete as one of the greatest marathon runners the world has ever seen, praising his continued competitiveness and commitment to flying Kenya’s flag high on the international stage.
“We celebrate Eliud Kipchoge as one of the greatest marathon runners the world has ever seen,” Ruto said, describing his victory in Melbourne as another remarkable achievement and an inspiration to all.
The Melbourne triumph marks Kipchoge’s 17th marathon victory and his first win since the 2023 Berlin Marathon, underscoring his remarkable longevity in a sport that demands exceptional endurance, discipline and resilience.
Kipchoge has enjoyed an illustrious career, highlighted by Olympic marathon gold medals at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games. He also won the 2003 World Athletics Championships 5,000-metre title before establishing himself as one of the greatest marathon runners in history.
In September 2022, he set the men’s marathon world record of 2:01:09 at the Berlin Marathon, improving his previous mark by 30 seconds.
Another defining moment came in October 2019, when he ran the marathon distance in 1:59:40 during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, becoming the first person to cover the distance in under two hours under specially arranged conditions. The performance was not recognised as an official world record.
The Melbourne race was the third stop on Kipchoge’s Eliud Running World Tour, an initiative aimed at inspiring communities through running and promoting the unifying power of sport.
At 41, Kipchoge continues to demonstrate his competitive spirit, adding another milestone to a career that has inspired athletes across the world. Ruto concluded his message with a celebratory “Hongera, Kipchoge!”
