Former world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge will be competing at the Tokyo Marathon set for March 3rd 2024.
Today, his company announced: “I have good memories of Japan. I won my Olympic gold medal there and ran the course record in the Tokyo Marathon,” said Kipchoge.
“I feel good working towards my next race in Tokyo. For me, it is the perfect preparation towards my aim to win my third consecutive Olympic title next summer in Paris,” he observed.
The five-time Berlin Marathon champion has sweet memories of Tokyo since this is where he also won his second Olympic title during the delayed 2020 Olympics.
“Last time, I was grateful to the Tokyo organizers for planning the event during the difficult Covid-19 pandemic period. My aim was to set the course record and I am happy to have achieved my target. I feel good working towards my next race in Tokyo.”
Kipchoge had a mixed 2023 season, finishing sixth in the Boston Marathon, where he clocked 2:09:23. He bounced back to win the Berlin Marathon, where he clocked 2:02:42 to win the event for a record fifth time. He has yet to win in Boston and compete in the New York Marathon.
The man dubbed the Greatest of All Time (GOAT), will be using the Tokyo Marathon event as a build-up for his Olympic title defense in August. Kipchoge will be seeking to become the oldest athlete to win the marathon at the Olympics.
Meanwhile, Dutch woman Sifan Hassan has also been confirmed for the Tokyo event.
Hassan, a double Olympic champion, made her marathon debut with a storm, winning the London Marathon in 2:18:33.
She also extended her winning streak to the Chicago Marathon (2:13:44) and she is yet to lose a marathon. She heads to Tokyo with ambitions set to continue her winning streak.