Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge is just a supporting actor in the Olympic marathon in Paris. The reasons for the failure of the long-time dominator are probably to be found outside the sport.
10.08.2024, 11:38
SDA
Kipchoge is not only the 2016 and 2021 Olympic marathon champion, he was also the world record holder before his compatriot Kelvin Kiptum took over from him last October. Four months after his victory in the Chicago Marathon, in which he came within 35 seconds of the two-hour mark, Kiptum was dead. He died in a car accident at the age of 24.
Smear campaign
The tragedy surrounding Kiptum also had consequences for Kipchoge. He became the target of hostility, with hate speech and conspiracy theories appearing on the internet. Kipchoge was accused of being partly responsible for Kiptum's accidental death. He was accused of envy and resentment. Among other things, he was accused of not immediately congratulating Kiptum on his world record in Chicago.
The anonymous threats and completely unfounded hostility are not only directed at him, but also at his family. Kipchoge now tries to protect his family as much as possible; for example, the children are driven to and from school by car.
It goes without saying that Kipchoge is concerned about the circumstances, even if he has not received any more defamatory reports recently. His management has had the relevant access blocked. Kipchoge has been living in fear for months. He can no longer be himself. Every training session becomes a mental challenge. The quality is no longer the same as before. He finds it difficult to concentrate on his work.
Not at his usual level of performance
With thoughts in his head far removed from sport, Kipchoge is obviously unable to perform at his usual level. At the beginning of March in the marathon in Tokyo, he had to settle for 10th place - a completely unfamiliar classification for him, who normally dominates every race over the 42.195 kilometers.
How much the unbearable situation influenced Kipchoge's failed performance in the Olympic marathon in Paris can only be speculated on. The same goes for when normality will return to the Kenyan's life.
