Uganda’s half-marathon world record holder, Jacob Kiplimo, has expressed confidence ahead of his full marathon debut at the London Marathon on Sunday, stating that he is well-prepared and ready to give his best.
Kiplimo, a two-time world cross country champion who set a new half-marathon world record by 48 seconds in Barcelona in February, will compete against a strong field that includes Ethiopia’s Olympic champion, Tamirat Tola, and marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge.
“I’m so grateful to be here,” Kiplimo said at a press conference. “This race will bring many challenges because the half-marathon is very different from the full marathon. But I have prepared myself well, and I hope to do my best on Sunday. I just want to run my own race and aim for a personal best.”
London Marathon director Hugh Brasher described Kiplimo’s debut as one of the most intriguing. “We have no idea what he will do on the day,” he said. “Could he be the first athlete to break the two-hour mark in a race? It’s possible, but we’ll see what happens on Sunday.”
Kenya’s defending men’s champion, Alexander Mutiso Munyao, is also back for his second appearance at the London Marathon and has labelled the field as the strongest ever. “Winning last year’s marathon gave me courage, and I’ve decided to keep coming back to try my best,” Munyao said.
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Meanwhile, Kipchoge, the former world record holder and four-time London Marathon champion, returns to London for the first time since 2020. However, this year, his focus is not solely on competition but on giving back to the community.
“I’m here to support the good causes of the London Marathon,” said the 40-year-old Kenyan. “It’s about the charity events that the marathon supports.”
The 2016 and 2020 Olympic champion, who experienced back pain and failed to finish at last year’s Paris Games, expressed his motivation to inspire others.
“Last year was tough, but sport is built on challenges and dedication.”
“The true test of an athlete is how they rise after setbacks. I’ve learned from last year, and I’m ready for Sunday,” Kipchoge said.
This year’s London Marathon is set to break records with over 56,000 participants expected to compete, making it the largest event of its kind.
