Eliud Kipchoge has announced he will retire from elite marathon running after the New York City Marathon in November, before pursuing a new challenge in Antarctica. The 40-year-old Kenyan, who holds four of the ten fastest marathon times in history, confirmed the decision in an interview with Olympics.com.
Kipchoge, who became the first man to run a marathon in under two hours during an unofficial event in Vienna in 2019, has won 11 World Major Marathon titles and two Olympic gold medals. However, he has never competed in New York, making his debut on 2 November a milestone as he aims to earn the Seven Star award for completing all major marathons.
“It’s time for me to go there and get a Seven Star before embarking on my new journey of running for other things—running for a purpose,” Kipchoge said. He revealed plans to run in Antarctica and a 50-kilometre race in Saudi Arabia, describing them as “extreme” challenges to inspire hard work and rally partners for a cause.
Kipchoge last competed at the Sydney Marathon in August, finishing ninth, and his most recent victory came at the 2023 Berlin Marathon. His retirement marks the end of an era in distance running, as he steps away from elite competition to focus on new projects.
