Eliud Kipchoge is... Well – he needs no introduction, really. Essentially marathon royalty, Kipchoge is the most decorated marathon runner in history.
Since breaking the tape at his debut marathon in Hamburg, Germany, in 2013, the Kenyan has gone on to cement his dominance over 26.2 miles, becoming a two-time Olympic marathon champion and unprecedented 11-time winner of Abbott World Marathon Majors races.
This unmatched collection of 11 victories includes a win in Chicago, a win in Tokyo, five wins in Berlin – including two world records in 2018 and 2022 – and four wins in London. No elite man has won the Berlin Marathon or London Marathon more times than Kipchoge, whose ratified marathon PB of 2:01:09 makes him the second-fastest person of all time over the distance, behind only the late Kelvin Kiptum.
And let’s not forget the extraordinary experiment that was the INEOS 1:59 Challenge of 2019, where – in lab-like outdoor conditions – Kipchoge became the first-ever person to break the two-hour barrier for the marathon. As it stands, he is still the only person to have achieved this, too.
Kipchoge’s professional running CV is overpopulated with immense achievements. He has worked his way up to his position as the GOAT – the Greatest Of All Time – and deserves to hold this title. However, he has not been completely immune to disappointing performances.
Kipchoge, widely regarded as the greatest marathoner of all time, last raced in London in 2020. Between 2015 and 2019, he dominated the event, winning a record four titles. However, his seven-year winning streak came to an end during the COVID-delayed 2020 London Marathon, where he finished a disappointing 8th, citing ear blockage issues.
Since then, Kipchoge has had highs and lows. He bounced back after 2020 with four consecutive wins, including a second Olympic gold in Sapporo and another world record in Berlin. But the 2024 season marked a rough patch for the Kenyan legend, with a 10th-place finish in Tokyo and his first-ever marathon DNF at the Paris Olympics. In Paris, Kipchoge struggled with back and hip pain, falling off the lead pack early in the race.
Today, Eliud Kipchoge returned to the course in the 2025 London Marathon which was his first run since dropping out of the Paris 2024 Olympics run.
The 40-year old marathon legend, finished 6th in the 2025 London Marathon, running a time of 2:05:25.
Kenya's Sebastien Sawe took the top spot, finishing with an impressive 2:02:27. Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda came in third with a time 2:03:37 and Kenya’s Alexander Munyao finished fourth clocking 2:04:20.
Despite the performance, Kipchoge is set to pocket a handsome amount of cash, reportedly, a maximum appearance fee of $150,000 and an extra $7,500 for finishing sixth.
Meanwhile, Sabastian Sawe enhanced his reputation as a force to reckon with in the men’s marathon after winning on his race debut with a time of 2:02:27.
Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, who shattered the half marathon record in February, marked his marathon debut with a second-place finish after clocking 2:03:37.
Third place went to Kenya’s Alexander Munyao, who clocked 2:04:20 to finish just ahead of Dutchman Abdi Nageeye in a photo finish. Nageeye also clocked 2:04:20.
Olympic champion Tamirat Tola finished fifth with a time of 2:04:42, unable to replicate his exploits from Paris last year.
Sawe’s victory earned him prize money of $55,000 (Sh7.1 million), while Kiplimo took home $30,000 (Sh3.8 million) for second place. Nageeye’s third-place finish was rewarded with $22,500 (Sh2.9 million).
In the women’s race, Ethiopian Tigst Assefa shattered the women’s only marathon record after winning in 2:15:50, breaking the mark set by Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir last year (2:16:16).
Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei finished second in 2:18:44. Jepkosgei had run side by side with Assefa until the 35-kilometre mark, after which the Ethiopian pulled away to cruise to the third marathon victory of her career, adding to her Berlin Marathon wins in 2022 and 2023.
Reigning Olympic champion Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, who won the race in 2023, finished third in 2:19:00.
Assefa’s record-breaking performance earned her a bonus of $125,000 (Sh16.1 million) on top of the $55,000 (Sh7.1 million) prize money for first place. Jepkosgei earned $30,000 (Sh3.8 million) for second, while Hassan took home $22,500 (Sh2.9 million) for third.
