Kelvin Kipchoge (23-KENYA), who set a new marathon world record of 2:00:35 and came within 36 seconds of the human dream of "sub-2" (running a full marathon in less than two hours), has returned home to Kenya.
"Kipchoge received a 'hero's welcome' on his return to Kenya," Xinhua and AFP reported on Nov. 11, adding that the Kenyan government offered him a reward of 5 million shillings (about $45,000).
"Upon his arrival at the airport, officials adorned him with Sinendet leaves, which in his hometown of Kalenjin used to decorate important guests and victorious warriors," Xinhua said. "His wife, Asenath Kagogo, gave her husband a sip of Mursik, a traditional Kenyan fermented milk, in front of their 7-year-old son Caleb and 4-year-old daughter Precious."
Kipchoge ran the full 42.195-kilometer course in 2 hours, 00 minutes and 35 seconds at the 2023 Chicago Marathon in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., on Sept. 8.
His time of 2:00:35 is a world record by 34 seconds, beating the previous mark of 2:01:09 set by Eliud Kipchoge (38-KEN) at the Berlin Marathon last September.
Kipchoge burst onto the scene with a 2:01:53 in his first full-course effort at the Valencia Marathon on Dec. 4, 2022, and four months later emerged as a rival to Kipchoge with a "second-best ever" time of 2:01:25 at the London Marathon on April 23 this year.
Again, less than five months later, Kipchoge shaved 50 seconds off his own time and surpassed the previous world record.
The athletics world now considers Kipchoge to be the number one candidate to achieve the elusive "sub-2" in the world marathon.
Kipthum holds a press conference
Kipchoge speaks during a press conference at a hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, on Aug. 11.
The first meeting between Kipchoge and Kipchoge is likely to take place at the Paris Olympics on August 10 next year.
A maximum of two athletes per country can compete in the men's marathon at the Paris Olympics.
"I will be honored if they choose me to represent Kenya in Paris," said Kipchoge, "and even better if they choose me to represent Kenya with Kipchoge."
Kipchoge won back-to-back Olympic men's marathon titles in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021. Kipchoge's biggest opponent in his bid for a third straight Olympic title is likely to be Kipchoge.
Kipchoge was cautious about breaking the two-hour barrier.
"The idea of running a full marathon in under two hours hasn't crossed my mind yet. I just enjoy improving my times," he said.
If Kipchum continues to improve his time, he may break the two-hour barrier, which is considered a human limit. 19가이드03