This archive report was first published on 4 December 2019.
Kenyan athletics legend Eliud Kipchoge has confirmed his intention to defend his Olympic marathon title in Tokyo next year, provided he is selected.
Speaking to Reuters in an exclusive interview in Nairobi on Tuesday, Kipchoge stated, "If selected I will be there." He expressed confidence in being on the starting line, saying, "I trust and believe that when the time comes I will be on the starting line."
However, the Olympic marathon has been relocated to Sapporo, a city in the northern part of Japan, to avoid the debilitating heat and humidity of the Tokyo area.
When asked about the change, Kipchoge remained diplomatic, saying, "I think the medals are the same." He emphasized his willingness to compete wherever the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decides, stating, "I will be among the competitors, I don’t complain, I’m in the hands of the IOC and anywhere they decide, I will go with it."
As the world's greatest marathon runner, Kipchoge has won 11 of his 12 official marathons, including the 2016 Rio Olympics. He has also set the official world record for the distance with a time of 2:01.39 in Berlin last year.
However, Kipchoge's record-breaking times have been questioned by some critics, who argue that the benefit of the latest running shoes should be taken into account. Kipchoge's Nike shoes, which feature carbon-fibre plates and a thicker midsole, have been at the center of controversy.
When asked about the issue, Kipchoge defended the use of advanced technology in running shoes, saying, "This world is full of development and development comes with technology." He emphasized the importance of innovation in the sport, stating, "I trust that even in the shoe sector, technology should be there."
