Kenyan marathon great Eliud Kipchoge pocketed A$25,000 (approximately USD17,460 or KES 2.26 million) after winning the Melbourne Marathon on Sunday, October 11, breaking the course record and declaring he still has what it takes to compete with the next generation.
The 41-year-old two-time Olympic champion clocked two hours, nine minutes and 10 seconds to win on his Melbourne debut. He shaved two seconds off the previous race record and claimed his first marathon victory since 2023.
Kipchoge, who will turn 42 on November 5, broke away inside the final 10 kilometres of the 42.2km race after running alongside Australian former professional cyclist Jimmy Whelan until around the 30km mark.
He then upped the pace and pulled clear, looking remarkably fresh as he entered the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the finish.
Despite having the opportunity to record a faster time, Kipchoge waved to spectators during the final half-lap inside the stadium before celebrating with fans along the boundary fence for more than 30 minutes.
“The crowd is so wonderful. I have never seen a crowd like this. Melbourne is really, really a sporting city,” he said.
“I believe that my body is still peaking, still able to compete with the next generation. The oldest athlete is still competing, but I am happy to run with the Gen Zs.”
Kipchoge noted that his decision to increase the pace after 30km was intended to test his form and challenge the course record.
“My plan went well,” he told reporters.
Australian Thomas Do Canto came second in 2:10:35, while fellow Australian Reece Edwards took third in 2:15:57. Whelan finished fifth.
New Zealand’s Camille French won the women’s race in 2:28:25, ahead of Australia’s Sinead Diver, who clocked 2:28:49. Ireland’s Nichola Sheridan finished third.
The race formed part of Kipchoge’s ambitious World Tour, which involves running a marathon on each of the seven continents, including Antarctica. Melbourne was the third stop following races in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and Cape Town, South Africa.
Kipchoge disclosed that finishing at the MCG was particularly meaningful because the stadium hosted the marathon start and finish during the 1956 Olympic Games, marking 70 years since the historic event.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest marathon runners in history, Kipchoge has won two Olympic marathon gold medals and set world records of 2:01:39 in 2018 and 2:01:09 in 2022, both in Berlin.
His Melbourne victory reinforced his message to younger athletes that age has not ended his competitive ambitions.
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