Eliud Kipchoge, one of the greatest marathon runners of all time, will not compete in another Olympic Games after failing to finish the marathon at Paris 2024 on Saturday, August 10th. This marks the first time in his illustrious career that Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic marathon champion, did not complete a race.
Despite the disappointment, Kipchoge remained composed and reflective. Speaking to Olympics.com, the Kenyan icon confirmed that this setback would not deter him from continuing his marathon career, which began over a decade ago. “It is a difficult time for me,” Kipchoge admitted, referencing the moment he dropped out of the race just after the 30km mark due to discomfort around his waist. “This is my worst marathon. I have never done a DNF [Did Not Finish]. That’s life. Like a boxer, I have been knocked down, I have won, I have come second, eighth, 10th, fifth – now I did not finish. That’s life.”
When asked if he would consider running in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, Kipchoge stated, “You will see me in a different way, maybe giving people motivation, but I will not run.” He added, “I don’t know what’s next. I need to go back [home], sit down, and try to figure out my 21 years of running at a high level. I need to evolve and feature in other things.”
Kipchoge’s Final Olympic Marathon Ends in Disappointment
Kipchoge returned to marathon racing at Place de l’Hôtel de Ville in Paris, full of confidence and determined to reclaim his place on the Olympic podium for a record fourth time in what would be his fifth Olympic Games. His last marathon, in Berlin last September, saw him become the first man to run a marathon in under two hours and three minutes, clocking in at 2:02:42. However, his record was soon surpassed by Kelvin Kiptum, who set a new world record of 2:00:35, just weeks later.
Conditions in Paris were ideal, with temperatures at 19 degrees Celsius and moderate humidity. Kipchoge, just shy of his 40th birthday, was ready for another landmark achievement. He stayed close to the leading pack until the 15km mark when he began to show signs of discomfort, holding his waist and eventually falling off the pace. Swiss runner Tadese Abraham, noticing Kipchoge’s distress, slowed down to check on him. Kipchoge confirmed that he was in pain, later explaining, “My waist was a little bit painful. It was a sharp pain, and it was not allowing me to continue with the race.”
The pain intensified, forcing Kipchoge to make the difficult decision to withdraw from the race, just 12 kilometers from the finish line at Les Invalides. It was the first time in his career that he did not cross the finish line of a marathon. Before Paris 2024, his worst marathon result had been a 10th-place finish at the 2024 Tokyo Marathon.
As other runners passed him, Kipchoge walked part of the course, cheered on by the large crowds lining the streets of Paris. He eventually ended his Olympic journey after the last competitor, Mongolia’s Ser-Od Bat-Ochir, had passed him. Reflecting on the experience, Kipchoge said, “The other runners were telling me to push on, but I was telling them, ‘No, I have pain, I can’t.’ I could feel the love and respect from them.”
In a poignant moment, Kipchoge crossed the finish area in just his shorts, having given away his shirt, shoes, socks, and race number to supporters. “I walked for 2km, and more than 300 people were walking with me. That’s why I don’t have my shirt, the socks, the shoes, the race number,” he explained.
A Farewell to the Olympics, But Not to Running
Paris, the city where Kipchoge first rose to international fame as a teenage 5000m world champion, was fittingly the site of his last Olympic marathon. “It was not the race I came here for,” he acknowledged. “But that’s sport. Sport is up and down. Sport is like a garden when you plant seeds; sometimes you harvest flowers, sometimes weeds. Today, I harvested weeds.”
Despite the unexpected end to his Olympic career, the two-time world record holder has no plans to retire from running. “I will continue to run, absolutely, why not?” Kipchoge said when asked about his future. However, he ruled out a future in coaching, stating, “I have many other things to do than being a coach. I want to travel around the world, visit different countries, and motivate people.”
 at Paris 2024, reflecting on his marathon career and future plans.){kind=link}