Eliud Kipchoge, widely regarded as the greatest marathon runner of all time, has declared that he remains at the top of his game, sending a clear message to the rising generation of athletes that he is far from finished.
The 41-year-old Kenyan made a spectacular debut at the Melbourne Marathon on Sunday, shattering the course record and thrilling thousands of spectators as he crossed the finish line at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Clocking an incredible two hours, nine minutes, and 10 seconds over the newly configured course, Kipchoge beat the previous record by a mere two seconds. This victory marks his first marathon win in three years, proving his enduring dominance in the sport.
Throughout the race, Kipchoge was accompanied by Jimmy Whelan, a former Australian professional cyclist, until approximately the 30km mark. From that point onward, the two-time Olympic champion and former world record-holder accelerated, pulling away from the field to commandingly secure the win.
Appearing effortlessly as if completing a routine training session, Kipchoge spent over half an hour after the race celebrating with fans lined along the MCG boundary fence. He was swarmed by media at the finish line, navigating the media scrum with his characteristic calm and grace.
“The crowd is so wonderful – I’ve never seen a crowd like this,” Kipchoge said of the electric atmosphere. “Melbourne is really, really a sporting city.”
“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,” he added, reflecting on his longevity at the highest level of the sport.
“I increased the pace after 30km, to see whether I can run well and beat the race record. My plan went perfectly,” Kipchoge explained of his race strategy.
Kipchoge had emphasized in the days leading up to the race that his visit to Melbourne was more than just another competition. It forms the third leg of his global tour, in which he aims to run a marathon on every continent, including Antarctica.
In addition to his athletic achievements, Kipchoge engaged in community activities during his time in Melbourne, showing a deep appreciation for the city’s rich sporting heritage.
“The experience is awesome – the culture of Melbourne is wonderful,” he remarked.
“The last four days, I’ve seen myself, sport can do wonder. It was four-in-one – with the tennis, finishing at the cricket, the Olympics were here in 1956, running on the Formula One track.”
“I will come back to Melbourne to watch the tennis, the Formula One next year, to see people of Melbourne playing cricket. This is the best track ever,” he continued, expressing his admiration for the city’s multifaceted sporting culture.
Kipchoge could have finished a few seconds faster, but he chose to use the final half-lap inside the MCG to wave and connect with the cheering crowd.
This marked the Kenyan runner’s second visit to Australia, having previously finished ninth in the 2025 Sydney Marathon.
Australia’s Thomas Do Canto finished as the runner-up with a time of 2:10:35, while Whelan secured fifth place. In the women’s division, New Zealand’s Camille French claimed victory in 2:28:25, followed closely by Australia’s Sinead Diver in 2:28.49.
The half-marathon titles were awarded to Australia’s Seth O’Donnell and New Zealand’s Georgie Gregec.
In separate events earlier on Sunday, a woman was hospitalized after being struck by a car near Flinders Street station, approximately 200 meters from the marathon route.
According to reports, police officers in the vicinity drew their weapons after a vehicle, observed driving erratically, struck the woman around 10:45 AM, executed a U-turn, and fled the scene.
The victim was transported to Royal Melbourne Hospital, though her current condition remains unknown.
