“Athletics is not so much about the legs; it’s about the heart and the mind.” – Eliud Kipchoge has put this to test by cementing his status as the most decorated marathon runner. He turned heads back in October 2019 by doing the unthinkable. Kipchoge clocked an extraordinary time of 1:59:40 in Vienna, becoming the first to complete 42.1km in under two hours! While it wasn’t considered a world record, it doesn’t deter from how monumental this feat is.

The legendary distance runner clinched his first Olympic marathon title in 2016, completing the event in 02:08:44 seconds. Ethiopia’s  Feyisa Lilesa trailed behind him with 02:09:54 seconds on the clock. Kipchoge then went on to defend that title at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He clinched an effortless win with 2:08:38 seconds, with Netherland’s Abdi Nageeye finishing second with 2:09:58 seconds. Eliud Kipchoge is the third man to have achieved this feat, and he has now set his sights on the French Capital.

The 39-year-old will be the oldest track and field athlete from Kenya at the upcoming summer games, and is also the first to compete in five different Olympics. He is now aiming to be the first athlete to win 3 consecutive Olympic marathon titles in Paris. But who has helped make Kipchoge’s dreams a reality? Let’s find out!

Meet Eliud Kipchoge’s coach

Eliud grew up admiring his now coach, Patrick Sang. Considered to be one of the best steeplechasers in the world, Sang went on to clinch a silver medal in 3000m at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Sang was first approached by the athlete when he was just 16-years-old. He would often ask for training programs, but Sang never gave in. After a few similar interactions, Kipchoge finally got the chance to introduce himself. After following one of the two-week training programs handed to him, he was back for another. And since then, Sang and Kipchoge have never left the other’s side.

After a successful career in the early 1990s, Sang decided to shift gears and coached athletes in Kenya around 1997 while still competing. However, he soon realized his skills limited him to steeplechase only. So he took up a World Athletics coaching course and worked his way to the top. It is this decision that gave him the confidence to train the way he does now.

His approach to training is different. He believes good progress is far more essential than the final product. “When I go to training with the athletes and see that they’re happy, even if the training is painful, those are the moments that I really enjoy–because I know having been an athlete myself, it’s not easy.” If he notices an athlete progressing from one training session to another, it brings him far more joy than them breaking world records and winning medals.

Sang takes pride in how he understands the athletes he trains. He believes being a coach is like being an artist. While the 60-year-old has an incredible amount of knowledge and experience, it usually isn’t one-size fits all. If he notices an athlete can potentially progress in a certain capacity, he then utilizes that to work on their training plan. Oddly enough, this hasn’t been the case with Kipchoge. “He’s never asked for the plan for the year, the plan for the week, the plan for the month, no,” Sang told Olympics.com.

He strongly believes that an athlete can only succeed if they listen to their body. It is essential to understand the needs, work towards your maximum potential, and actively seek expert advice. This, according to him, will help an athlete grow. He also understands that not everyone is built the same. Because each person can have a different skillset and potential, find one’s one capabilities and limits are just as important.

How did Kipchoge benefit from Sang’s experience?

Sang helped Kipchoge clinch 10 major marathon victories, 3 Olympic medals, and podium finishes at the World Championships. He believes trust has played a pivotal role in making this happen. “What has happened between the two of us is that we’ve developed an element of serious trust to the point whereby he knows I’m there for the good of his development – for the development of his career and holistically as a person” This has worked a motivation for both Sang and Kipchoge to go the extra mile, and to keep pushing.

Their partnership started out as Sang being Kipchoge’s role model and teacher. He found himself guiding the athlete with new things, and helping him grow. Kipchoge has never questioned any of Sang’s teachings, he just does what he’s been told to. This on several occasions has put some pressure on Sang, but he’s taken it in his stride.

When Kipchoge started training under Sang, one of the first things he noticed was that the Olympian had a special talent. With this, he started creating training plans that would help him hone his skills. This helped the athlete clinch the 5000m title in 2003 as a teenager. This was just the start, according to Sang. But he believes the Olympian has truly come a long way. He was right there by his side when he attempted the sub-two-hour in Vienna.

Eliud Kipchoge and Peter Sang will now be working towards clinching another gold in the French capital. “I will be the happiest on earth to win an Olympic medal for the third time, back-to-back-to-back. It’s about making history; it’s about inspiring a generation.” Will we witness Kipchoge make history in Paris? We will just have to wait and watch, stay tuned.