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Eliud Kipchoge announces his next race ahead of Olympic title defense

Marathon king Eliud Kipchoge has announced where he will compete before going to the Olympic Games to defend his title.

Former world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge has been confirmed for the 2024 Tokyo Marathon scheduled for Sunday, March 3.

The two-time Olympic champion will be making his return to the streets of the Japanese capital after his dominant win in the 2020 edition of the international multi-sport event as he gears up for the Olympic Games in Paris, France.

The five-time Berlin Marathon champion has sweet memories of Tokyo since it is where he also won his second Olympic title during the delayed 2020 Olympics. 

“I have good memories in Japan. I won my Olympic gold medal there and ran the course record in the Tokyo marathon.

"Last time, I was grateful for the organization to organize the event during such a difficult time during the Covid-19 pandemic. My aim was to set the course record and it was great to achieve that. I feel good working towards my next race in Tokyo.

"For me, it is the perfect preparation towards my aim to win my third consecutive Olympic title next summer in Paris,” Kipchoge said.

Kipchoge has so far run 21 marathons over his career and he will be seeking to add another victory when he heads to the Tokyo Marathon.

He has 18 total wins under his belt and in 2019 ran 1:59:40 during the sub-2 project that was set up in Vienna. The marathon great turned 39 last month but has still been in great form recently with his fifth victory in the Berlin Marathon in September in 2:02:42. 

In a bid to win all six annual World Marathon Majors, Kipchoge chose Boston for his spring marathon this past year and placed sixth. He has yet to win the Boston Marathon and yet to race the New York City Marathon. 

Choosing Tokyo in March over the other major spring marathons (Boston and London in April) gives Kipchoge more time to prepare for his bid to become the first person to win three Olympic marathons and the oldest person to win any Olympic running event. 

Meanwhile, Dutch woman Sifan Hassan has also been confirmed for the event. Hassan, a double Olympic Champion, came to the marathon with a storm, making her debut at the London Marathon and eventually winning. 

Choosing Tokyo in March over the other major spring marathons (Boston and London in April) gives Kipchoge more time to prepare for his bid to become the first person to win three Olympic marathons and the oldest person to win any Olympic running event.