Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge aims to make history by becoming the first man to win three consecutive Olympic marathon gold medals at the Paris Games starting next month.
Kipchoge secured gold in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, and a victory in Paris would complete a rare hat-trick, cementing his status as the greatest marathon runner of all time.
Paris will mark Kipchoge’s fifth Olympics. He previously participated in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 as a 5,000m runner, winning bronze and silver, respectively, before transitioning to the marathon for Rio and Tokyo.
This experience makes Kipchoge one of the most seasoned runners in Paris, a feat achieved by few.
Why Eliud Kipchoge trains on a gravel track in Eldoret once a week as he prepares for the Paris Olympics
ATHLETICS
Why Eliud Kipchoge trains on a gravel track in Eldoret once a week as he prepares for the Paris Olympics
However, Kipchoge’s appearance record is set to be surpassed by a relatively unknown marathon runner from Mongolia.
Ser-Od Bat-Ochir is a name few are familiar with. The 42-year-old Mongolian marathoner has competed in every Olympics since 2004 and is set to make his sixth appearance at the Games in Tokyo.
Bat-Ochir was initially expected to miss this landmark achievement, but a last-minute rule change has secured him a spot in Paris.
While World Athletics’ qualification rules were based on rankings, allowing the top 80 marathoners worldwide to qualify for Paris, the International Olympic Committee added universality places, which replaced some athletes who hoped to qualify through the world rankings.
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