Eliud Kipchoge, the 41-year-old Kenyan distance runner widely considered the greatest marathoner in history, announced plans for a world tour that will take him across all seven continents over the next two and a half years. Rather than chasing more medals, Kipchoge says he wants to use running as a tool to inspire people and support communities around the globe.
Kipchoge’s racing resume includes two Olympic gold medals in the marathon, won in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021. He has set two official world records and won 11 World Marathon Major races. His personal best time of 2 hours, 1 minute, and 9 seconds came at the 2022 Berlin Marathon. In 2019, he became the first person to run a marathon in under two hours during a special event in Vienna, finishing in 1:59:40, though the time does not count as an official record.
Still, the Kenyan legend aspires to do more than just win awards.
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The new project, called the Eliud Kipchoge World Tour, will operate through a platform named Eliud’s Running World. Each marathon will raise money for the Eliud Kipchoge Foundation, which works on education programs, environmental projects and health initiatives. Kipchoge hopes to raise $1 million at each stop, with the money going toward projects designed for each local community’s specific needs in Kenya.
“Running is the most universal sport,” Kipchoge told the BBC in an interview recently. “It connects us all. With this project, I want to compete not only for records, but for the people.”
Kipchoge started his professional career over 23 years ago. He won world championship medals in the 5,000 meters before switching to marathons. His competitive achievements also include a world championship gold medal in 2003 and Olympic bronze and silver medals on the track.
Kipchoge says his focus has shifted from personal achievements to leaving a lasting impact.
“I want to inspire, to give back, and to remind everyone that no human is limited,” he said. The tour represents what Kipchoge calls an evolution rather than a retirement from the sport that made him famous.
