Greatest of all time! Why 2018 is Kipchoge’s best year yet

Related image

 

If the wins this year are anything to go by, then 2018 could easily be Eliud Kipchoge’s best year yet.

The Kenyan athlete has this year been in the headlines for his tremendous hard work that has seen him win titles and accolades that he probably never imagined he would in a lifetime.

Let’s take a look at why this year could be one for the books for the newly crowned World Male Athlete of the Year.

 

Image result for kipchoge london marathon

 

In April this year, Eliud Kipchoge won his third London Marathon title in 2 hours, 04 minutes and 17 seconds. Kipchoge won the 2018 London Marathon against some of the world’s greatest athletes including Mo Farah, a four-time Olympic gold medallist who finished third with a time of 2:06:32 and three-time Olympic gold medallist Kenenisa Bekele.

Kipchoge, who won his maiden London Marathon in 2015 in 2:04:42, got to earn the winners prize purse of Ksh. 5.5 million and an additional Ksh. 10 million for running sub 2:05:00.

 

Image result for kipchoge berlin marathon

 

As if winning the London marathon was not enough, Kipchoge on 16 September 2018, won the Berlin Marathon in a time of 2:01:39, in what he described as his personal best.

The new marathon World record holder, smashed the previous world record by compatriot Dennis Kimetto by a massive one minutes and 16 seconds, clocking 2 hours, 01 minute and 39 seconds to retain his BMW Berlin Marathon. This win by Kipchoge represents the biggest single improvement on a men’s marathon world record since 1967.

 

 

On the 24th October 2018, the world marked the UN World Day, a day devoted to making known to people of the world the aims and achievements of the United Nations Organization and gaining their support for its work.

The marathon world record holder, Kipchoge was this year named the United Nations Personality of the Year in Kenya. It’s always a great thing when people give back to society and try to make the world a better place. This is the story of Kipchoge, a man who has used his achievements to leave the world better than he found it.

Kipchoge was awarded not only for his athletic heroism and determination to advance the spirit of sports in Kenya but also his work on HIV/AIDS in Kenya, and his endurance and courage which embody the ideals of the UN.

 

 

Kipchoge this year also had the once in a lifetime opportunity to sit down and have a chit-chat with one of the world’s most celebrated journalists, Richard Quest. While it may not look like a big deal, in his first visit to Kenya, Quest single-handedly picked Kipchoge over all other politicians and leaders who might have been deemed as ‘more important’.

After the interview, Quest praised Kipchoge saying: “He is amazing and when he talks about his run, he talks about it with a lot of dedication and passion… I tried to drink from the well yesterday… I stood next to him and asked how I can also do it,” and indication that the athlete inspired the journalist just like he continues to inspire many of us.

 

 

However, for the Kenyan champion, the events in Monaco last night might go down as on of his 2018 bests. Eliud Kipchoge was last evening named the International Association of Athletics Federations’, IAAF, 2018 Male World Athlete of the Year, a most prestigious award in the athletics sphere.

This will go down in history books as Kipchoge is now the second Kenyan to bring home such an award after David Rudisha won the award for the first time in 2004. Kipchoge rubbed shoulders with the who is who in the world of sports in the ceremony that was graced by the high and mighty like, IAAF President Sebastian Coe and Albert II, the Prince of Monaco.

 

Image result for living my best life gif

 

It’s no secret that Eliud Kipchoge is living his best life and at only 34 years old, the future can only be brighter for the man who has put Kenya on the map, made history and proved that hard work and determination is the key to success.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *