Marathoners will reclaim Olympics title, vows Eliud Kipchoge

Reigning London and Berlin Marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge reckons that Kenya’s marathon team will regain its lost glory at next month’s Olympic Games.

Gloom descended on Team Kenya camp during 2012 London Olympics when Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich took men’s marathon title which had been won by Samuel Wanjiru in the 2008 edition in Beijing.

Former two-time World marathon champion Abel Kirui came second at the 2012 Games, while former London Marathon champion Wilson Kipsang was third.

Kipchoge, who won the 2016 London Marathon in a course record of 2hours, 03:05min, said that he is confident Team Kenya will shine in the Olympics the main medal. “We are training well as a team and we are hopeful that this time round, we will bring back all the medals,” said Kipchoge.

The late Wanjiru was the first Kenyan to win an Olympics gold medal over the marathon but Kipchoge has said his main objective in Rio de Janeiro Olympics as a team is to bring back the Olympics crown to Kenya.

“Our main aim as a team is to deliver for the country. We would like to assure Kenyans that we will do our best and run as a team,” Kipchoge, who hails from Nandi County, added.

Kipchoge made his marathon debut in April 2013. He made a smooth transition to the marathon by winning the Hamburg Marathon in new course record. In the same season, he competed in Barcelona Half Marathon, Klagefurt Half Marathon.

He came second in the 2013 Berlin Marathon behind Wilson Kipsang, becoming the fifth fastest marathoner in history in just his second marathon race.

But he returned last year in the German capital to win the race. At this year’s London Marathon, Kipchoge almost broke the world record held by Dennis Kimetto but fell short by eight seconds.

Kipchoge and Kenya’s marathon team is training alongside the reigning Olympic champion Kiprotich.

Additional reporting by Brian Adero