Eliud Kipchoge, the two-time Olympic marathon champion from Kenya, has announced he won't defend his title at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce my decision to withdraw from the Paris 2024 Olympics. Competing at the Olympics has always been a great thing and I was looking forward to winning my third successive title. However, at this juncture in my life, I feel compelled to explore new opportunities and challenges,” he stated in a press release.

At 39, he clinched the Rio Olympic Marathon in 2:08:44 and the Tokyo Olympic Marathon in 2:08:38 (2020/2021). Additionally, he secured silver and bronze in the 5000-metre event at the Athens and Beijing Olympics.

Among the six Marathon Majors, Kipchoge has triumphed 11 times, securing victory in Berlin five times, and setting the world record twice. In 2018, he clocked 2:01:39, followed by a staggering 2:01:09 in 2023. While his record was later surpassed by Kelvin Kiptum, whose unfortunate demise occurred earlier this year, the anticipated showdown between the two for Olympic gold would have undoubtedly been a highlight of the Games.

Kipchoge boasts an impressive record across major marathons, clinching victory in the London Marathon four times, and once each in Tokyo and Chicago. He's crossed the finish line an astounding 10 times under 2:05, with six runs under 2:04:00, and two under 2:02:00. Remarkably, he won 17 out of his first 20 marathons, consistently showcasing his prowess. In Berlin, he's never finished slower than 2:04:05 in all six of his appearances.

Following his 10th-place finish in the 2024 Tokyo Marathon, where he clocked in at 2:06:50, Kipchoge experienced his lowest ranking in a marathon to date.

In pursuit of an unprecedented achievement, Eliud Kipchoge undertook two extraordinary marathon-distance runs aimed at breaking the elusive 2-hour barrier, a feat previously considered unattainable in the realm of human endurance. While these events were not formally recognized as marathons, they were meticulously organized and adhered to the rigorous standards set by World Athletics, ensuring that the courses precisely measured 42.195 kilometers—the standard marathon distance. Despite their experimental nature, these runs represented groundbreaking endeavors in the quest for human athletic excellence.

In 2017, Kipchoge attempted to break the 2-hour marathon barrier in Monza, Italy, finishing just shy at 2:00:25. Then, in 2019, he made history in Vienna, Austria, running the marathon in under 2 hours with a time of 1:59:40, showcasing his extraordinary skill and resilience on the track.

Kipchoge showcased his versatility and speed across various distances, recording impressive times like 3:33.20 for the 1500m in Hengelo in 2004, a remarkable 12:46.53 for the 5000m in Rome that same year, and an impressive 26:49.02 for the 10,000m in Hengelo three years later.

Kipchoge's prowess shines through with a stunning 59:25 clocked in Lille, France back in 2012. Despite his remarkable talent, many speculate he could have set even faster times had he focused more on this distance. As for marathons, his personal best of 2:01:09, achieved at the 2022 Berlin Marathon, stood as a world record until it was surpassed by Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago 2023, who ran an astonishing 2:00:35. Nonetheless, Kipchoge's remarkable 2:01:09 marathon performance remains the second-fastest official time ever recorded.

With Kiptum and Kipchoge out of contention, the field for the 2024 Paris Olympic Marathon becomes a battleground for new contenders, each vying for the lead and waiting to see who will make the first move.

Among the top-ranked Kenyan marathoners are Benson Kipruto, Alexander Mutiso Munyao, and Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich, boasting impressive times. Ethiopian Tamirat Tola is also a force to be reckoned with. Despite this, Kelvin Kiptum maintains his position at the pinnacle of the global rankings according to World Athletics. With a pool of around 25 East African contenders, the competition for victory in the Paris Marathon is fierce.

Kipchoge is under the management of NN Running and Global Sports Communications, headed by Jos Hermanns. His retirement plans remain undisclosed. Regarded as the epitome of marathon greatness until Kiptum's ascent, Kipchoge's legacy is cemented by his consecutive Olympic triumphs and a remarkable string of marathon victories.

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