Eliud Kipchoge begins quest for historic treble as Benson Kipruto & Alexander Mutiso also aim for gold

Kenya's Paris Olympics marathon team Benson Kipruto, Eliud Kipchoge & Alexander Mutiso . Photo: OlympicsKE

Eliud Kipchoge begins quest for historic treble as Benson Kipruto & Alexander Mutiso also aim for gold

Joel Omotto 17:32 - 09.08.2024

Kenya’s men’s marathon team of Eliud Kipchoge, Benson Kipruto and Alexander Mutiso will be seeking to win a fourth Olympics gold out of five when they hit the road on Saturday.

Eliud Kipchoge will embark on his journey of making Olympics history on Saturday morning (9am Kenyan time) when he hits the streets of Paris in the men’s marathon.

Kipchoge has won back-to-back Olympics gold medals following victories in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 and wants to become the first man to claim three straight titles.

It is a tough task for the 39-year-old who has had his ups and downs in the last one year but he must rise to the occasion if he has to deliver.

Kipchoge has had a rough year, starting with social media bullying when world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum passed away in February, before a 10th place finish at the Tokyo Marathon in March.

He has, however, gone about his business well but the race in Paris will determine whether he has shaken off all those disappointments.

Kipchoge will team up with the man who beat him in Tokyo Benson Kipruto as well as London Marathon winner Alexander Mutiso.

Kipruto, 33, and Mutiso, 28, will offer Kenya the best possible chance of a medal sweep and either of the two will look to capitalise incase Kipchoge does not have a good race.

The Kenyan trio will not have it easy, however, as Ethiopia have veteran Kenenisa Bekele, Deresa Geleta and Boston Marathon champion Sisay Lemma.

The three are a formidable force that will give the Kenyans a run for their money, setting up the stage for an epic battle.

Kenya has won the Olympic marathon gold in three of the last four Olympics and there is great optimism in the team selected to make it four on Saturday.