Eliud Kipchoge fails as he has never failed: finishes eighth in the London marathon

A year ago in Vienna he was a superman, a demigod capable of running a marathon in less than two hours and celebrating it so fresh, but this time in London he was simply a man.

A man capable of failing, making mistakes, losing.

For the first time in his life,

failed.

In his previous 12 marathons he had already posted a loss, but that was a logical defeat: second in the 2013 Berlin marathon behind a

who then set a new world record.

This time everything was different.

The best marathoner in history finished eighth in London with his second worst time of his life (2h6: 48) and with terrible feelings.

Kipchoge, hitherto infallible, hitherto impassive, ordered the hares to a trotting pace until the half marathon and then, after further slowing down a large group and making the odd grimace - a very rare thing for him - he let go without more before kilometer 35. It is true that in the last hour he did not drink anything at the aid stations, a sign of digestive problems.

It is true that the coronavirus had forced him to change his routines and train without his Kiptagat group.

And it is true that in the morning it rained in London and the circuit was slippery.

But no one expected that, after his most excellent last years, Kipchoge would fail so loudly in his only race this season.

Finally the victory went to a semi-unknown, the Ethiopian

(2:05:41), who two years ago finished second in London behind Kipchoge himself and who had also been second that year in New York.

A group of four runners, three Ethiopians, Kitata,

and

and a Kenyan,

, took the

the last

and in the end everything was decided in a final sprint between Kitata and Kipchumba.

Upon reaching the finish line, Kipchoge, visibly shaken, lightly touched his hamstrings, but offered no further evidence of a possible injury causing his poor result.

A year after being a superman, he had simply become human.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

Athletics Tough naps at home, hairpin bends in London and the new Nike: Kipchoge's secrets to the best marathon of the year

Athletics There will be no duel of the century: Kenenisa Bekele withdraws from the London marathon 36 hours before the start

Athletics Brigid Kosgei, the woman behind the marathon record: "They say it was my shoes and that's not the case"

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