Will Tokyo Marathon 2024’s Stumble Going To Hinder Eliud Kipchoge’s Paris Olympics Dream?

The world’s best marathon competitions, including the Tokyo Marathon 2024, feature exciting action nearly every week as the Olympics draw near. The men’s competition kicked off from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building under a bright blue sky and a comfortable temperature of 12°C. However, it progressed at a record-breaking speed.

As the dust settles on the Tokyo Marathon 2024 and Eliud Kipchoge grapples with his unexpected stumble, the burning question looms large: Will this setback derail his cherished dream of triumph at the Paris Olympics? With the weight of his lowest career finish bearing down on him, the world watches with bated breath, pondering the fate of one of athletics’ greatest champions on the road to Paris.

Tokyo Marathon 2024 marks Kipchoge’s lowest finish

In the Tokyo Marathon 2024, the Kenyan long-distance runner Eliud Kipchoge aimed at clinching his third consecutive Marathon gold. Reflecting on the performance at the track, this Kenyan star remarked with uncertainty, “That’s how it is — not everyday is Christmas Day”, during an interview at Japan’s Nippon TV, acknowledging the struggle he encountered during the race. According to the rankings by NBC Sports, Kipchoge finished the race in tenth place with a time of 2:06:50. In his 20 marathon career, this timing was the worst for him. The Kenyan’s remarkable 2:01:09 finish in the 2022 Berlin Marathon cemented his reputation as a legendary athlete, and his most recent time may come as a shock to those anticipating yet another thrilling display.

Benson Kipruto and Sutume Asefa Kebede were the winners of men’s and women’s categories who availed their spots for the Tokyo Marathon 2024 on Sunday, 3rd March by setting a new track record. The Tokyo marathon was the first WMM (World Marathon Majors) event during the year, and it attracted about 37,000 runners. The men’s elite race saw Benson Kipruto, the 2022 Chicago Marathon and 2021 Boston Marathon champion, set a new record with a time of 2:02:16. Not just one but two records simultaneously – Kipruto is the first person of any gender to set a world record at the sporting event. Before him, the best men’s record of the sporting event was held by Olympics gold medalist Eliud Kipchoge with 2:02:40 set in 2022, but now, even that record has become irrelevant.

A bounce-back for Eliud Kipchoge in Paris Olympics 2024

The two-time Olympian has a knack for transforming failures into opportunities for achievement. The Kenyan will draw inspiration from his amazing return at the Tokyo Olympics as he attempts to create history in Paris. Eliud Kipchoge will undoubtedly recover to win the Olympic marathon gold in Paris in 2024.

Read More: Tokyo Marathon 2024: Eliud Kipchoge’s Glorious Career Takes a Hit With Lowest Career Finish

His unexpected setback at the Tokyo Marathon 2024, where he continued to struggle more and more, and at the 35 km point, he was no longer in the top 10. But “I will go back, relax and start training,” he said. Kipchoge has expressed his goals for 2024 clearly. His thoughts are entirely focused on the Olympic Marathon at the Summer Games in Paris. Although the Kenyan federation has not yet revealed its roster, it would be shocking if Kipchoge was left off it.