Eliud Kipchoge has revealed why he did not finish the men’s marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympics, sharing what went through his mind during the race.
After passing the 30km mark, Kipchoge, a five-time Berlin Marathon champion, made the difficult decision to step off the course.
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Reflecting on his experience, Kipchoge shared a profound perspective upon returning to Kenya.
“Paris was good…it was the best Olympics ever. I think everybody watched, but you know sport is like that—today you are up, tomorrow you are down. You need to understand that. It’s always said that you can’t chase two rabbits at a go,
“Paris was another rabbit, so I have to go back and check for another one. I have to go and see what opportunities are there for me to grab,” Kipchoge explained after arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
He waited for the last athlete to pass him before stopping, an act that spoke volumes about his character. Kipchoge later expressed pride in his efforts, emphasizing that true failure lies in not trying at all.
“Failure is that person who doesn’t try…I tried to win the third one, but it was not my day, and that’s how the sport is. If all of us can be positive in life, we’ll go far. In a curtain, there are flowers and weeds, and if you concentrate on the weeds, the flowers can’t grow. Let us concentrate on the flowers,” he said
Going into the Paris Olympics, Kipchoge aimed to make history as the first man to win three Olympic gold medals in the marathon.
The four-time London Marathon champion had previously claimed victory in the 2016 Rio Olympics and successfully defended his title at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Games.
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However, his dream was cut short as he was forced to withdraw from the race, which was ultimately won by former world champion Tamirat Tola.
Belgium’s Bashir Abdi and Kenya’s Benson Kipruto finished second and third, respectively.
Despite the setback, the two-time Olympic champion spoke positively about his time in Paris. He was thrilled to have met runners from around the world and acknowledged that in sports, success and setbacks are part of the journey.
Kipchoge’s resilience and never-say-never attitude just goes to show that even the greatest athletes face challenges, but it is their response to these challenges that defines their legacy.
Kipchoge remains undeterred, stating that he will continue to pursue new opportunities.
