The greatest marathoner of all time, Eliud Kipchoge revealed in the 2022 BMW Berlin Marathon post race conference that he is not thinking about retiring after smashing his own world record.
When asked by a 71-year-old Canadian journalist if he would follow the footsteps of tennis greats Serena Williams and Roger Federer who hanged their boots at the age of 40, Kipchoge replied that retiring is not an option for him.
“You forgot Lewis Hamilton is 37 and he is still driving a car at a speed of 360 Kilometres per hour. I always tell people that if you want to be young in mind, then start running. If you want to be young in mind, start doing fitness,”
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“Running actually makes someone think in a good way and live longer. So if you want to live longer, start running” stated Kipchoge.
The 37-year-old runner also disclosed that he does not have any plans of running a marathon in less than two hours at the moment.
“You know I’m an African, and in Africa we believe that we chase one world record at a time. So the rabbit which we were chasing as a team was the 2022 Berlin marathon.
“I will go back now, sit with the team, sit with the coach and see what to do next. So, for now I don't have any plans at all,” added the double Olympic champion.
Kipchoge slashed 30 seconds from the previous world record he set in 2018 when he reached the tape in 2:01.09 in Berlin on Sunday.
The 2004 Athens Olympic Games 5,000m silver medalist won his fourth Berlin Marathon title ahead of compatriot Mark Korir and Ethiopian athlete Tadu Abate.
Korir and Abate, who were nowhere to be seen when Kipchoge completed the road race, crossed the finishing line in 2:05.58 and 2:06.28 respectively.
Kipchoge has won all the 13 marathons he took part in between 2014 and 2022, no single athlete has achieved that milestone.
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