Quick Read
- Eliud Kipchoge will run his final major marathon in New York, aiming to earn the Six Star Medal.
- He has won 16 out of 23 marathons and holds two Olympic gold medals.
- Kipchoge credits his wife Grace Sugut for steadfast support; she once fasted a week before his record Berlin win.
- The couple is launching a foundation to support athletes, education, and environmental efforts in Kenya.
- Kipchoge plans new running challenges beyond the marathon circuit, including ultra-distance and extreme locations.
Kipchoge’s Marathon Legacy: The Final Chapter
For more than a decade, Eliud Kipchoge has been synonymous with marathon greatness. The Kenyan runner, now on the eve of his 41st birthday, is preparing to lace up his shoes one last time for the New York City Marathon—a race that marks not just another competition, but the closing act of a remarkable career. As he steps onto the streets of New York, Kipchoge isn’t just chasing a finish line; he’s pursuing history, family, and a new sense of purpose.
With a record that few can rival, Kipchoge’s name is etched into marathon lore. Sixteen wins out of 23 marathons. Eleven major victories—more than any other runner, male or female. Two Olympic golds. Four of the ten fastest marathon times ever recorded, including a world record-breaking performance in Berlin in 2022. But as he told Olympics.com, this final race isn’t just about numbers: “It’s time for me to go there before embarking on my new journey of running for other things.”
Chasing the Six Star Medal: A Quest for Complete Greatness
This Sunday, Kipchoge stands on the brink of securing the prestigious Six Star Medal—a distinction awarded to those who complete all six Abbott World Marathon Majors: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. The medal, first introduced in 2016, is a badge of honor in the running world, with fewer than 500 athletes ever earning it. Kipchoge, already hailed by many as the greatest marathoner of all time, sees the Six Star as a final piece in his legacy puzzle.
“Chasing that Six Star will actually cement my legacy,” he told reporters, as quoted by Reuters. “It will make me a real marathoner all round. The Six Star has been my goal since I stepped in marathon.” The journey is a testament to patience and persistence—traits Kipchoge embodies both on and off the track. He added, “My celebration is to see all the Six Star winners. Talk with them, shake hands, tell them to help me make this world a running world.”
While the Sydney Marathon has recently joined the roster of Abbott World Marathon Majors, the Six Star Medal remains exclusive to the original six. For Kipchoge, New York represents not just a race, but the culmination of a global quest, a handshake with history, and a moment to reflect alongside fellow runners who have walked—and run—the same path.
Family at the Heart: The Quiet Strength of Grace Sugut Kipchoge
If Kipchoge’s public achievements are dazzling, the story behind the scenes is quietly powerful. Supporting him every step of the way is his wife of two decades, Grace Sugut Kipchoge. Their life together in Eldoret, Kenya, is grounded in routine and resilience. Dividing his time between family and a high-altitude training camp, Kipchoge’s home is filled with laughter, discipline, and a shared commitment to time—especially on Sunday mornings, when punctuality for church is non-negotiable.
Grace, who met Eliud through her brother Amos (one of Kipchoge’s closest friends), describes her husband as “silent and humble.” But at home, he’s playful—a father who runs around with their three children, Lynn, Griffin, and Gordon, yet insists on keeping schedules tight. In an interview with the BBC, she revealed, “The children know that. And I also know that. I always keep time. It is very important.”
Her devotion goes beyond daily life. Before Kipchoge’s historic Berlin Marathon win in 2022, Grace fasted and prayed for a week, hoping for a miracle. Her faith was rewarded when Kipchoge not only won but broke his own world record, finishing in 2:01:09—a performance that stunned the running world and added another chapter to his legend.
Beyond the Finish Line: New Ambitions and Community Impact
Kipchoge’s story doesn’t end with the marathon tape. Even as he hints at retiring from major races, his ambitions are shifting toward fresh challenges and social impact. He’s teased the possibility of “running for a purpose” in places as extreme as Antarctica, or tackling ultra-distance events like a 50-kilometer race in Saudi Arabia. “I now want to do that extreme thing that can make someone work hard. A lot is in store which I will roll out after New York…it will be an interesting journey…to do other things,” he said to Reuters.
This drive to go beyond personal glory is mirrored in the couple’s community work. Together, Eliud and Grace have supported athletes during the pandemic, championed education for girls, and promoted environmental stewardship. The foundation they are building aims to develop athletic talent, advance literacy, and restore Kenya’s forests—starting with their adoption of 130 acres in the Kaptagat Forest for reforestation. “I want to be remembered as the force behind the force,” Grace told The Standard.
Grace’s love of travel—spanning destinations in Asia and her cherished Laikipia in Kenya—speaks to a curiosity and openness that matches Kipchoge’s global journey. And while their travels may be extensive, discipline remains a family value, extending even to spending habits.
The Marathoner’s Farewell: A New Road Begins
As Kipchoge prepares for his final major race in New York, the air is thick with anticipation and reflection. The city, famed for its energy and crowds, offers a fitting stage for a farewell—one that is as much about the runner as the journey itself. “I’ve been looking forward to New York for a very long time,” he shared. “The city where everybody is there [to support].”
For fans and fellow runners, Kipchoge’s last marathon isn’t merely an ending—it’s an invitation. His legacy, built on discipline, humility, and an unwavering belief in patience, is a roadmap for anyone chasing their own finish lines. And as he turns toward new horizons, whether in Antarctica or through his foundation’s work in Kenya, Kipchoge’s story is far from over.
In the end, Eliud Kipchoge’s career is more than a litany of records and medals. It is a testament to the power of family, faith, and purpose—a reminder that greatness is forged not just in the pursuit of victory, but in the journey toward meaning. As he crosses his final major finish line, Kipchoge’s legacy is secure: not only as the greatest marathoner, but as a force inspiring others to run, strive, and believe.
Image Credits to kipchogeeliud