Eilud Kipchoge looks forward to Mo better racing

03 December 2017 - 00:00 By bbc.com

Olympic champion Eilud Kipchoge is looking forward to taking on Great Britain's Mo Farah when he attempts to win a third London Marathon in April 2018.
Kipchoge, 33 - described as "the greatest marathoner of the modern era - won the race in 2015 and 2016 and like Farah won a world title on the track - the 5000m in 2003.
"It's great he will be racing because I'm sure that will make the atmosphere more special," said the Kenyan.
Farah, 34, who has won six world and four Olympic titles over 5000m and 10000m, is racing in his third London Marathon.
In his first race in 2013, Farah pulled out as planned at the halfway mark and he finished eighth when completing the race in 2014, running a personal best of two hours, eight minutes, 21 seconds.
The 2018 London Marathon will be the first event on the road for Farah since he switched his focus to road racing.
And Kipchoge said: "It does take time to make that switch but I'm sure Mo will be successful.
"It's great he will be racing the London Marathon because I'm sure that will make the atmosphere more special."
Kipchoge added that the London Marathon had been important in his career, saying: "I came so close to breaking the world record in 2016 and it is natural for anyone in that situation to think of what might have been.
"But that race gave me the confidence to go on and win the Olympic title in Rio and run so well throughout 2017."
Kipchoge went close to breaking the marathon world record in winning in Berlin in September, finishing in 2:03.32 - 36 seconds off the mark set by his countryman Dennis Kimetto in Berlin in 2014.
He won marathon gold at the Rio Olympic Games and came close to becoming the first athlete to run under two hours for the 42km distance in Italy in May in an unratified race...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.