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Kenyan marathon legend Ibrahim Hussein feels the country could lose out big if Eliud Kipchoge and Kelvin Kiptum stick to their guns at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Three-time Boston Marathon champion Ibrahim Hussein feels Kenya could miss out on a medal sweep at the Paris 2024 Olympics if Eliud Kipchoge and Kelvin Kiptum are selected but do not run as a team.
Kiptum is currently the man of the moment after smashing Kipchoge’s world marathon record by running 2:00:35 at last Sunday’s Chicago Marathon, shaving off 34 seconds from his compatriot’s mark set in Berlin last year.
The two have already expressed their desire to represent Kenya at the 2024 Paris Olympics, setting the stage for what could be an epic battle in the French capital.
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09:30 - 11.10.2023
ATHLETICS Bullish Kelvin Kiptum wants a duel with Eliud Kipchoge at Paris Olympic Games
After his exploits at the Chicago Marathon, Kelvin Kiptum is considering competing at the Olympic Games where he will face off against Eliud Kipchoge.
While Kenyans are delighted at the prospect of the two going at each other, Hussein is preaching caution as he fears their competitiveness could be detrimental to Kenya’s medal hunt in Paris.
“If you put two winners in one race, the possibility of one dropping out is very high so we need to bring them together and tell them that silver is also very good,” said Hussein, as quoted by Capital.
“In case one of them is not going to get gold, he should not drop out, he should just hang in there and win silver for the country.
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19:00 - 11.10.2023
ATHLETICS Kelvin Kiptum receives hero’s welcome in Elgeyo Marakwet county as he returns home after Chicago Marathon heroics
World marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum brought Iten to a standstill as he returned home to Elgeyo Marakwet county following his record-breaking exploits in Chicago on Sunday
“I used to have that problem when I was running. Whenever I realised that the gold was not there, the chances of dropping out of the race midway were very high. Second place…or third place was nothing for me but you see we need the silver and the bronze for the country,” added Hussein, who was the first Kenyan to win the New York Marathon in 1987.
Athletics Kenya will have a hard time convincing either runner that second place is still good enough given Kipchoge is seeking to cement his legacy by becoming the first marathoner to win three straight Olympics titles while Kiptum is itching for a first bite of the cherry.
However, Hussein insists there are no two ways about it other than working together otherwise Ethiopians and the emerging Ugandan runners could spoil Kenya’s party at the Olympics.
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05:28 - 12.10.2023
ATHLETICS Kelvin Kiptum on whether he will attempt to break sub-two hour marathon barrier
Kelvin Kiptum has finally responded to questions on whether he will attempt the sub-two-hour marathon.
“I think these two athletes, if we don’t antagonise them we will have a clean sweep in the marathon. I know they are from different management but I think if they work as a team…it is our responsibility as Athletics Kenya to really see that they work together as a team,” said Hussein.
“The two of them are sure bet for gold and silver. I don’t know who of them is going to win gold or silver because both of them are competitive.”
There has been simmering tensions between the two already, orchestrated by their fans, due to Kipchoge’s failure to publicly congratulate Kiptum for breaking his world record so far, and much more will come out before the Olympics.
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