Kipchoge sets Melbourne record in first marathon win in three years

At 41 years old, legendary Kenyan marathoner Eliud Kipchoge demonstrated that he remains a dominant force in the sport, winning his debut at the Melbourne Marathon on Sunday. The two-time Olympic champion broke the previous race record by two seconds, finishing with a time of two hours, nine minutes, and 10 seconds over a newly configured course. The victory marks Kipchoge’s first marathon win in three years.

Kipchoge ran alongside former Australian professional cyclist Jimmy Whelan for approximately 30 kilometers before accelerating to secure a decisive lead. Upon crossing the finish line, the winner appeared unfazed, spending more than 30 minutes celebrating with spectators along the boundary fence of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

“The crowd is so wonderful – I’ve never seen a crowd like this,” Kipchoge told reporters after being mobbed by media. “Melbourne is really, really a sporting city.” He added, “I believe that my body is still peaking – still able to compete with the next generation. The oldest athlete is still competing, but I am happy to run with the Gen Zs.”

The win serves as the third leg of Kipchoge’s world tour, a project that involves completing a marathon on every continent, including a future race in Antarctica. During his stay in Melbourne, he also engaged in community outreach and expressed admiration for the city’s extensive sporting heritage.

“The experience is awesome – the culture of Melbourne is wonderful,” he said. “The last four days, I’ve seen myself, sport can do wonder. It was four-in-one – with the tennis, finishing at the cricket, the Olympics were here in 1956, running on the Formula One track.”

Kipchoge acknowledged that he could have finished faster but chose to wave to fans during the half-lap inside the MCG before the finish line. He described Melbourne as having “the best track ever” and indicated plans to return next year to watch the tennis, Formula One, and cricket.

This event marked Kipchoge’s second visit to Australia. He previously competed in the 2025 Sydney Marathon, where he finished ninth. Australian runner Thomas Do Canto secured second place with a time of 2:10:35, while Whelan placed fifth. In the women’s race, New Zealand’s Camille French won in 2:28:25, with Australian Sinead Diver finishing second in 2:28:49. Seth O’Donnell and Georgie Gregec won the half-marathon titles for Australia and New Zealand, respectively.

Police reported an incident earlier on Sunday near Flinders Street station, approximately 200 meters from the marathon route. A woman was hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle that appeared to be driving erratically. Officers drew their weapons as the car performed a U-turn and fled the scene. The woman’s condition has not been disclosed.