Image: Instagram
Legendary Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge has announced his plans to take on the Sydney Marathon in August.
The two-time Olympic champion, winning back-to-back Olympic titles in 2016 and 2020, is the only runner to ever record an unofficial sub-two-hour time in the event. In 2019, Kipchoge ran a time of 1:59:40 in Vienna however standard competition rules were not in place at the time.
Kipchoge has competed in almost 20 official marathons, claiming 15 victories including wins in Chicago (2014), Berlin (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2023), and London (2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019).
The Kenyan elite athlete broke the Berlin Marathon record with a time of 2:01:39 in 2018, which was the greatest improvement in a marathon world record time since 1967.
Following his performances that year, he received accolades including being named IAAF World Athlete of the Year, and named 2018 Sportsman of the Year at the Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year Awards in Mombasa.
The first time Eliud Kipchoge will run in Oceania
Widely regarded as the greatest marathoner of all time, this will be the Kenyan’s first time running in Oceania.
“I am so excited. This is not only my first time racing the TCS Sydney Marathon, but also my first time running in Oceania. Competing in Australia is a huge opportunity for me. Sydney looks like a stunning city with so many iconic sights. It’s going to be a new and special experience for me,” Kipchoge said in a statement.
“I’ve been to many places to share my vision of making this world a running world. As I’ve never been to Australia before, I want to help make Australia a running nation,” he said.
Kipchoge holds five of the 13 fastest marathon times ever recorded.
He is set to compete at the TCS London Marathon on 27 April, followed by the Sydney Marathon in August, which will be the first year it is recognised as a World Marathon Major.
Sydney Joins the Abbott World Marathon Majors
Last November it was announced that the TCS Sydney Marathon had been added to the exclusive list of Abbott World Marathon Majors. The original six celebrated races include the marathons in New York City, London, Chicago, Berlin, Tokyo and Boston.
According to the TCS Sydney Marathon’s website, the marathon course starts at the same location as the Sydney 2000 Olympic Marathon, in North Sydney, and takes runners across the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, around the landmarks of The Rocks, Circular Quay and Centennial Park, before finishing in front of the world-famous Sydney Opera House.
The event is the only Abbott World Marathon Major in the southern hemisphere, and is expected to welcome a record-breaking 35,000 marathon runners in its first year as a Major in 2025.
The TCS Sydney Marathon is the only running event in Australia to be broadcast live each year, with participants from over 120 countries running in 2025.
The event has raised over $28 million dollars for charitable organisations since its inception, and has already set a new event record of $1.8 million raised so far in 2025 (as of 28 February this year).
The TCS Sydney Marathon has announced that their socials, website, app, and signage on the day will provide details on where and when Eliud will be at each location on the course, allowing participants to be part of the shared history on August 31.
