Will Kipchoge impress again at London Marathon?

Legendary athlete Eliud Kipchoge will be returning to the streets of London, after a disappointing 2024.

From a tenth place at the Tokyo Marathon to not finishing at the Paris Olympics marathon, Kipchoge was a heartbroken athlete last season.

On Friday, the 40-year-old legend was entered in the 2025 London Marathon set for Sunday April 27.

Kipchoge, the only human to have run inside two hours for a marathon, has previously chalked up four victories at the London Marathon and is eying a fifth title in April.

After not finishing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Kipchoge left athletics enthusiasts guessing his next move. Many thought he was retiring.

Apart from the sub two-hour marathon he set at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in 2019, Kipchoge to the start line two Olympic marathon victories from 2016 and 2020 under his belt as well as 11 wins at Abbott World Marathon Majors events.

Kipchoge’s victories in London came during an unbeaten streak from 2015 to 2019 although he didn’t line up in 2027.

His last appearance came in the elite-only London Marathon during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 where he placed eighth after an ear problem. 

The legendary athlete told organisers of the 45th London Marathon that the race held a special place in his heart.

“I am excited to share that my next race will be the TCS London Marathon. It is a race that holds a very special place in my heart, filled with so many beautiful memories, and I am eager to create even more,” Kipchoge said.

Kipchoge said he will be banking on adequate rest and preparations in his return to the streets of London.

“It’s a privilege to share this journey with everyone else who will be taking part as we push ourselves to deliver our best performances. After a good period of rest, I have returned to training with renewed energy and focus. I feel re-fuelled to give my very best in London,” he added.

The two-time Olympic champion will be in a high-calibre field in the men’s category.

Defending champion Alexander Mutiso is among super-fast contenders for the title.

Mutiso won the 2024 race and earned his place in the marathon team for the Paris Olympics.

Also in the London Marathon mix is Sabastian Sawe who ran the fifth-fastest time in history when he won the 2024 Valencia Marathon in 2:02:05 on his debut over the 42km distance.

Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands, who is the reigning New York City Marathon champion, is one of five national marathon record holders in the men’s field with his PB of 2:04:45.

Berlin Marathon champion, Ethiopian Milkesa Mengesha is among elite men to watch in the race.

Organisers have also assembled speedsters in the women’s field.

Marathon World Record holder Ruth Chepngetich and defending champion Peres Jepchirchir will be threatening the women-only record set by the latter in 2024.

Chepngetich became the first woman in history to break the historic two hour 10-minute barrier for the marathon when she shattered the world record in Chicago last year.

“This is quite simply the greatest elite field in the history of the London Marathon. We have all four Paralympic and Olympic marathon champions, not to mention an Olympic triathlon champion in Alex Yee. We are welcoming back all our defending champions and, excitingly, Ruth Chepngetich who produced one of the most outstanding athletic performances of all time when she became the first woman to run inside 2:10 at Chicago last year," Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon, said

“In Ruth Chepngetich, Sifan Hassan and Tigst Assefa we have the three fastest women of all time in the field in a thrilling showdown. All three have run inside 2:14 and no marathon in history has ever had a faster line-up. We are always proud when we hear athletes say that the TCS London Marathon is harder to win than the Olympic or Paralympic marathon. The reason they say that is because of the quality of the fields we assemble here in London and this year, our historic 45th edition, is stronger than ever before."