The upcoming edition of the Tokyo Marathon is set to include two of the biggest names in the sport: Eliud Kipchoge and Sifan Hassan.
Kipchoge will line up to run his 22nd marathon in Tokyo, where he found success last year, setting the course record with his winning time of 2:02.40. He formerly held the world record until it was broken at the Chicago Marathon by Kelvin Kiptum in October.
“I have good memories in Japan,” Kipchoge said in a press release. 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.”
Hassan has shown dominance on the track throughout her career, and now she’s showing what she can do on the roads. She ran the second fastest time in women’s marathon history at the Chicago Marathon earlier this fall with her time of 2:13.44.
“I am so excited to announce my participation in my next marathon,” she said in a press release. “I feel Tokyo is the perfect preparation towards the Paris Olympic Games, because I have great Olympic memories in the city of Tokyo and I feel I can fuel my Olympic fire there.”
