He broke the marathon and now his next move could change global sport forever
A career that reshaped endurance
For more than two decades, Eliud Kipchoge stood at the center of distance running, not only winning races but altering how athletes and scientists understood human potential. The 41 year old Kenyan runner collected Olympic titles, world championships and record breaking performances that placed him in a category of his own.
According to reporting by BBC Newsday on the BBC World Service, Kipchoge now says that phase of his career is complete, even though he continues to run competitively.
Not retirement but redirection
Kipchoge rejects the idea that he is stepping away from the sport. Instead, he describes his current phase as an evolution.
“What I am doing is not retiring,” Kipchoge said in an interview with BBC World Service’s Newsday. “I am evolving. I am running for purpose.”
Read also: Giannis storms back as NBA night flips streaks and standings
According to the BBC, that purpose will take shape through the Eliud Kipchoge World Tour, a project that will see him complete a marathon on all seven continents over the next two and a half years.
Achievements that frame the moment
The weight of Kipchoge’s decision is inseparable from his past success. He is a two time Olympic marathon champion, a former world champion and an 11 time winner of World Marathon Majors, alongside two officially recognized world records.
In 2019, according to the BBC, Kipchoge became the first person to run a marathon in under two hours under special conditions in Vienna, recording an unofficial time of 1 hour 59 minutes and 40 seconds.
Looking back on his career, Kipchoge told the BBC that his proudest achievement was not medals or records, but changing how people think about their own limits.
Read also: City move accelerates as Semenyo deadline sparks January transfer drama
Turning running into impact
According to BBC reporting, the world tour will operate under a long term initiative called Eliud’s Running World. Each marathon is intended to raise funds for the Eliud Kipchoge Foundation, which supports education, environmental sustainability and health programs.
Kipchoge has said he hopes to raise one million dollars at every stop. In Kenya, this includes plans to help build libraries across all 47 counties, while other host cities will see projects tailored to local needs.
“I want to leave a legacy of education,” Kipchoge said, according to the BBC. “There is knowledge in books.”
Speaking out for vulnerable athletes
Beyond his own projects, Kipchoge has become increasingly vocal about how athletes are treated, particularly those who never reach the top tier of global sport.
Read also: Donald J. Trump and the weaponization of modern sport
“I am not satisfied with how athletes are being handled or how they are being paid,” he said, according to BBC Newsday.
The BBC reports that Kipchoge pointed to the case of Evans Kibet, a Kenyan runner who is now being held in Ukraine after fighting for Russia, as an example of how easily young athletes can be exploited when opportunities are limited.
“It is unfortunate,” Kipchoge said. “Young people want a better life. But nobody protects them.”
A legacy built on purpose not podiums
Kipchoge has long argued that sport should reward patience, education and clean competition rather than shortcuts or quick rewards. According to the BBC, he believes that helping athletes think beyond immediate success is essential for the future of sport.
Read also: Fifa boss says pricey World Cup tickets are saving global football and fans are furious
While he says his competitive instinct remains, Kipchoge insists his priorities have shifted.
“I have nothing more to prove to the world,” he said in his BBC interview. “What I want now is to pass the spirit of running to the next generation.”
Sources: BBC Newsday, BBC World Service
Read also: Girona could steal Barcelona’s star keeper from Premier League giants
