Eliud Kipchoge facts for kids

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Eliud Kipchoge

Kipchoge at the 2015 Berlin Marathon
Personal information
Born	(1984-11-05) 5 November 1984 (age 40) Kapsisiywa, Rift Valley Province, Kenya (today in Nandi County)
Height	1.70 m
Weight	52 kg
Sport
Country	Kenya
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	Marathon, 5000 m
Team	NN Running Team
Coached by	Patrick Sang
Achievements and titles
World finals	2003 Paris 5000 m, 1 Gold 2005 Helsinki 5000 m, 4th 2007 Osaka 5000 m, 2 Silver 2009 Berlin 5000 m, 5th 2011 Daegu 5000 m, 7th
Olympic finals	2004 Athens 5000 m, 3 Bronze 2008 Beijing 5000 m, 2 Silver 2016 Rio de Janeiro Marathon, 1 Gold 2020 Tokyo Marathon, 1 Gold
Highest world ranking	1st (2023)
Personal best(s)	Marathon: 2:01:09 (Berlin 2022) Marathon: 1:59:40 (Vienna 2019) 10,000 m: 26:49.02 (Hengelo 2007) 5000 m: 12:46.53 (Rome 2004) Mile: 3:50.40 (London 2004)
Medal record Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 2 1 1 World Championships 1 1 0 World Cross Country Championships 1 0 0 World Indoor Championships 0 0 1 Commonwealth Games 0 1 0 World Marathon Majors 11 1 0 Total 14 4 2 Olympic Games Gold 2016 Rio de Janeiro Marathon Gold 2020 Tokyo Marathon Silver 2008 Beijing 5000 m Bronze 2004 Athens 5000 m World Championships Gold 2003 Paris 5000 m Silver 2007 Osaka 5000 m World Indoor Championships Bronze 2006 Moscow 3000 m Commonwealth Games Silver 2010 Delhi 5000 m World Cross Country Championships Gold 2003 Lausanne Junior race World Marathon Majors Gold 2014 Chicago Marathon Gold 2015 Berlin Marathon Gold 2015 London Marathon Gold 2016 London Marathon Gold 2017 Berlin Marathon Gold 2018 London Marathon Gold 2018 Berlin Marathon Gold 2019 London Marathon Gold 2021 Tokyo Marathon Gold 2022 Berlin Marathon Gold 2023 Berlin Marathon Silver 2013 Berlin Marathon

Eliud Kipchoge (born November 5, 1984) is a famous Kenyan long-distance runner. He is best known for competing in the marathon race. He used to specialize in the 5000 metres race.

Eliud Kipchoge won gold medals in the Olympic marathon in 2016 and 2020. He held the world record for the marathon from 2018 to 2023. This record was later broken by Kelvin Kiptum at the 2023 Chicago Marathon. Kipchoge has run some of the fastest marathons ever.

Kipchoge won his first world championship title in 2003. He won the junior race at the World Cross Country Championships. He also set a world junior record for the 5000 m. At 18, he became the senior 5000 m world champion at the 2003 World Championships. He then won an Olympic bronze medal for Kenya in 2004. He also earned a bronze at the 2006 World Indoor Championships.

Kipchoge has been a finalist five times in the World Championship 5000 m. He won silver medals at the 2007 World Championships, the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

He started focusing on road running in 2012. He had one of the fastest half marathon debuts ever, finishing in 59 minutes and 25 seconds. In his first marathon, he won the 2013 Hamburg Marathon. He set a new course record there. He has won the World Marathon Major series five times, which is a record. He won in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022.

Kipchoge has won the London Marathon four times, which is also a record. He holds the record for most Berlin Marathon wins with five victories. His latest win there was in September 2023. He has won 15 of his first 18 marathons between 2013 and 2023. His only losses were a second-place finish in the 2013 Berlin Marathon, an eighth-place finish at the 2020 London Marathon, and a sixth place at the 2023 Boston Marathon. He has faced defeats in his last three marathons since 2024.

On October 12, 2019, Kipchoge ran the marathon distance in the Ineos 1:59 Challenge in Vienna. He finished in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 40.2 seconds. This made him the first person in history to run a marathon in under two hours. However, this run did not count as a new world record. This was because it did not follow standard competition rules for pacing and fluids. It was also not an open event.

Kipchoge received the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart from former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. This was to honor his sub-two-hour marathon. He was also named the 2019 BBC World Sport Star of the Year. In 2023, he received the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports.

About Eliud Kipchoge

Eliud Kipchoge was born on November 5, 1984, in Kapsisiywa, Nandi County, Kenya. He finished Kaptel Secondary School in 1999. At that time, he did not run seriously as a profession. He used to run about 3 kilometers (2 miles) to school every day.

Kipchoge was raised by his mother, who was a teacher. He is the youngest of four children. He met his coach, Patrick Sang, in 2001 when he was 16 years old. Sang was a former Olympic medalist in the steeplechase.

Kipchoge's wife and three children live in Eldoret, Kenya. He lives and trains in Kaptagat, which is about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Eldoret. He is a devoted Catholic.

In 2024, after the death of Kelvin Kiptum, Kipchoge and his family faced online threats. These threats falsely accused him of being involved in Kiptum's death. This situation affected his training and overall well-being.

Eliud's Running Journey

Early Career: 2002–2004

In 2002, Eliud won the Kenyan trials for the junior race at the 2002 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. At the championships in Dublin, he finished fifth individually. He also helped the Kenyan junior team win a gold medal. Kipchoge won the 5000 meters race at the Kenyan trial for the 2002 World Junior Championships in Athletics. However, he got sick and missed the championships. He won the junior race again at the 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

He set a world junior record in the 5000 m in 2003. He ran 12 minutes and 52.61 seconds at the Bislett Games. This record stood until 2012.

Kipchoge won a gold medal in the 5000 m final at the 2003 World Championships in Paris. He narrowly beat Hicham El Guerrouj, who held world records in other races.

In July 2004, he ran the 5000 m at the Golden League Roma Meeting. He finished in 12 minutes and 46.53 seconds. This made him the sixth-fastest runner ever in that event.

In 2004, Kipchoge won a bronze medal in the 5000 m final at the Athens Olympics. He finished behind El Guerrouj and Kenenisa Bekele.

Middle Years: 2006–2009

Kipchoge won a bronze medal in the 3000 meters indoor race at the 2006 World Championships in Moscow.

At the end of 2006, Kipchoge won the San Silvestre Vallecana New Year's Eve 10 km road race. He finished in 26 minutes and 54 seconds. This time was faster than the 10K road world record at the time. However, the course was downhill, so it didn't count as a record.

Kipchoge (third from the right) during the 5000 m heat at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka. He won a silver medal in the final.

Kipchoge won a silver medal in the 5000 m final at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka. He finished behind Bernard Lagat.

At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, Kipchoge won a silver medal in the 5000 m event. His time was 13 minutes and 2.80 seconds. This was faster than the old Olympic record. However, Kenenisa Bekele won the gold medal.

He did not win a medal at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, finishing fifth.

Road Running Transition: 2010–2012

Kipchoge started the 2010 IAAF Diamond League by winning the 5000 m Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix. He set a new meet record.

He then ran the Carlsbad 5000 in California. This race is known for fast 5k road times. Kipchoge won the race, but the weather prevented him from setting a world best. He finished in 13 minutes and 11 seconds.

At the 2010 Commonwealth Games, he aimed to win the 5000 m title. He finished second, taking the silver medal, just behind Ugandan runner Moses Kipsiro.

In 2011, he won the short race at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country. He tried to win the Carlsbad 5000 again but came in second. He ran the 3000 meters in Doha, finishing third with a time of 7 minutes and 27.66 seconds. Kipchoge represented Kenya at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics. He reached the 5000 m final for the fifth time, finishing seventh.

In 2012, Kipchoge finished third at the Edinburgh Cross Country and the Carlsbad 5000. He tried to make the 10,000 m Olympic team but finished seventh in the Kenyan trial. A seventh-place finish in the 5000 m trial meant he would not be on the Olympic team for the third time.

He ran his first half marathon at the Lille Half Marathon. He finished third with a time of 59 minutes and 25 seconds. This was the second-fastest half marathon debut ever.

On October 6, 2012, Kipchoge ran at the 2012 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Kavarna, Bulgaria. He placed sixth.

Wilson Kipsang (front) and Kipchoge (behind) running in the 2013 Berlin Marathon. Kipsang set a world record, and Kipchoge finished second.

Marathon Dominance: 2013–2016

Kipchoge started 2013 by winning the Barcelona Half Marathon. He then made his marathon debut in April. He won the Hamburg Marathon in 2 hours, 5 minutes, and 30 seconds. He beat the other runners by over two minutes and set a new course record. In August 2013, he won the Half Marathon of Klagenfurt.

He then raced in the 2013 Berlin Marathon and finished second in 2 hours, 4 minutes, and 5 seconds. This was the fifth-fastest time in history for his second marathon. He finished behind Wilson Kipsang, who set a new marathon world record.

Kipchoge races in the 2015 London Marathon.

In 2015, Kipchoge won the 2015 London Marathon in April. He also won the 2015 Berlin Marathon later that year. In Berlin, his shoes had problems, but he still finished the race with a personal best time.

In April 2016, Kipchoge won the 2016 London Marathon for the second year in a row. His time of 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 5 seconds broke the course record. It was the second-fastest marathon time ever, just 8 seconds shy of the world record.

Rio Olympic Games Victory

Kipchoge was the favorite to win at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. He won a gold medal in the marathon event on August 21, 2016. He finished in 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 44 seconds. He made his final move around the 36 km mark. He ran the second half of the race faster than the first. The gap between Kipchoge and the second-place runner was 70 seconds. This was the largest winning margin in an Olympic marathon since 1972.

With this win, Kipchoge became the second Kenyan man to win an Olympic marathon gold medal. At the same Olympics, Jemima Sumgong became the first Kenyan woman to win the marathon.

On November 20, 2016, Kipchoge won the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon.

Breaking Barriers: 2017–2019

On May 6, 2017, Kipchoge attempted to run the first sub-two-hour marathon. This was part of the Nike Breaking2 project in Italy. He finished in 2 hours, 0 minutes, and 25 seconds. This was very close to the two-hour mark. The run used special pacing and support, so it was not an official world record.

On September 24, he won the 2017 Berlin Marathon in 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 32 seconds. He finished ahead of Guye Adola.

Setting a World Record in Berlin (2018)

Kipchoge won the 2018 London Marathon against strong competitors like Mo Farah.

Eliud Kipchoge (L) and his three pacers (R) about 30 minutes into the run during his 2018 world record race.

On September 16, 2018, Kipchoge won the 2018 Berlin Marathon in 2 hours, 1 minute, and 39 seconds. He broke the previous world record by 1 minute and 18 seconds. This was the biggest improvement in a marathon world record since 1967. He finished far ahead of the second-place runner. This was the 11th world record set at the Berlin Marathon.

After his amazing performances in 2018, Kipchoge received many awards. He was named IAAF World Athlete of the Year. He also won the 2018 Sportsman of the Year award in Kenya.

In 2019, Kipchoge won the 2019 London Marathon in 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 37 seconds. This was the second-fastest marathon ever at that time. He became the first man to win the London Marathon four times. He also set a new course record.

The INEOS 1:59 Challenge

In May 2019, Kipchoge announced another attempt to run a marathon in under two hours. This was called the Ineos 1:59 Challenge. On October 12, 2019, in Vienna, he ran the marathon distance in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 40 seconds. He became the first person in history to break the two-hour barrier for a marathon.

This achievement was recognized by Guinness World Records. However, it did not count as an official world record under rules from the sport's governing body. This was because of the special conditions, like support teams handing him fluids and rotating pacers.

Recent Years: 2020–Present

In October 2020, Kipchoge finished 8th in the 2020 London Marathon. This was his lowest finish in his marathon career.

To prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, he won the NN Mission Marathon in April 2021.

Kipchoge successfully defended his Olympic title from Rio by winning the gold medal in the men's marathon at the Tokyo Games. He finished in 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 38 seconds. He became only the third person to win two Olympic marathon gold medals in a row. He won by 80 seconds, which was the largest winning margin in 49 years. Kipchoge was the oldest Olympic marathon winner since 1984.

In January 2022, Kipchoge shared his goal to win all six World Marathon Majors. He had already won three: London, Berlin, and Chicago. In March 2022, he won the 2021 Tokyo Marathon with a time of 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 40 seconds. This was a new course record.

Another World Record in Berlin (2022)

Kipchoge (back center) about 14.5 km (9 miles) into the race, behind pacemakers.

Eliud at the 2022 Berlin Marathon.

On September 25, 2022, Kipchoge won the 2022 Berlin Marathon. He finished in 2 hours, 1 minute, and 9 seconds. This broke his own world record from 2018 by 30 seconds. With this fourth victory in Berlin, he matched the record of Haile Gebrselassie. He finished far ahead of the second-place runner. He ran the first half of the race in under an hour. This was the eighth time in a row that a men's world record was set in Berlin.

At the 2023 Boston Marathon, Kipchoge aimed to win his fifth major marathon. However, he had a problem with his left leg and finished sixth. This was his third loss in a marathon. At the 2023 Berlin Marathon, he won the race for a record fifth time. He finished in 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 42 seconds. He became the first man to win the Berlin Marathon five times.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Kipchoge dropped out of the marathon race after about 30 km (19 miles). This was the first time he did not finish a marathon in his career. He later said he would not compete in another Olympic Games. Kenyan President William Ruto still praised Kipchoge's achievements.

Achievements and Awards

International Competitions

Representing  Kenya

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
2002	World Cross Country Championships	Dublin, Ireland	5th	Junior race	23:39
			1st	Junior team	18 pts
2003	World Cross Country Championships	Lausanne, Switzerland	1st	Junior race	22:47
			1st	Junior team	15 pts
	World Championships	Paris, France	1st	5000 m	12:52.79 CR
2004	World Cross Country Championships	Brussels, Belgium	4th	Long race	36:34
			2nd	Team	30 pts
	Olympic Games	Athens, Greece	3rd	5000 m	13:15.10
2005	World Cross Country Championships	Saint-Étienne, France	5th	Long race	35:37
			2nd	Team	35 pts
	World Championships	Helsinki, Finland	4th	5000 m	13:33.04
2006	World Indoor Championships	Moscow, Russia	3rd	3000 m	7:42.58
2007	World Championships	Osaka, Japan	2nd	5000 m	13:46.00
2008	Olympic Games	Beijing, China	2nd	5000 m	13:02.80
2009	World Championships	Berlin, Germany	5th	5000 m	13:18.95
2010	Commonwealth Games	New Delhi, India	2nd	5000 m	13:31.32
2011	World Championships	Daegu, South Korea	7th	5000 m	13:27.27
2012	World Half Marathon Championships	Kavarna, Bulgaria	6th	Half marathon	1:01:52
2016	Olympic Games	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	1st	Marathon	2:08:44
2021	Olympic Games	Sapporo, Japan	1st	Marathon	2:08:38
2024	Olympic Games	Paris, France	DNF	Marathon	—

Marathon Race Results

World Marathon Majors Results

(*) Officially billed as the 2021 Tokyo Marathon, the race took place on 6 March 2022 after the 2021 edition was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a consequence of this postponement, the 2022 Tokyo Marathon was cancelled.

(x) Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

(p) Postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

National Titles

• Kenyan Cross Country Championships
  • Senior race: 2004, 2005
  • Junior race: 2002, 2003
• Kenyan Junior Championships
  • 5000 m: 2002
• Kenyan Olympic Trials
  • 5000 m: 2004

Circuit Wins

Personal Best Times

All information taken from World Athletics profile.

Awards and Recognition

• AIMS Best Marathon Runner Award – Men: 2015, 2016, 2017
• 2018 United Nations Kenya Person of the Year.
• 2018, 2019 IAAF Male athlete of the year award.
• 2019 BBC World Sport Star of the Year.
• Kipchoge was named one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in 2019.
• 2021 Association of National Olympic Committees Best Male Athlete Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
• 2021 Abebe Bikila Award.
• 2023 Princess of Asturias Award.
• 2023 Honorary Doctorate from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

See also

In Spanish: Eliud Kipchoge para niños

• List of Olympic medalists in athletics (men)
• List of World Championships in Athletics medalists (men)
• List of Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics (men)
• List of winners of the Chicago Marathon
• List of winners of the London Marathon
• List of winners of the Rotterdam Marathon
• List of 2004 Summer Olympics medal winners
• List of 2008 Summer Olympics medal winners
• List of 2016 Summer Olympics medal winners
• List of African Olympic medalists
• List of middle-distance runners
• 5000 metres at the Olympics
• Kenya at the World Championships in Athletics