NAIROBI, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Two-time Olympic champion and world record holder, Eliud Kipchoge has been confirmed for the 2022 Tokyo Marathon to be run on March 6.
It will be the first outing for Kipchoge since retaining his Olympic marathon title at the Japanese capital last summer where he clocked 2:08:32.
The Kenyan thus became only the third person to successfully defend his Olympic gold medal in the men's marathon, after Abebe Bikila in 1960 and 1964, and Waldemar Cierpinski in 1976 and 1980.
"I would like to thank the organizers of the Tokyo Marathon for making it possible for me and my fellow athletes to race in Tokyo. My focus has been on Tokyo from the beginning of my training cycle, and I can say I am ready to race there," the Kenyan marathon great posted on his Twitter account on Friday.
Kipchoge will be hoping to improve on his staggering marathon record of 13 victories in 15 starts when he lines at the World Marathon Majors Series race in Japan.
"I am very excited to run in a country where running is a crucial part of the sport culture and looking forward to experiencing the Japanese excitement for running the marathon in particular," the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 champion added.
The Kenyan superstar holds the 2:01:38 world record at the 2018 Berlin Marathon before becoming the first person to run under two hours at the specially arranged INEOS Breaking2 event in Vienna two years later. ■
