Kenyan marathoner and Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge was the first man in history unofficially, to run a marathon under two hours in the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in 2019. SHUTTERSTOCK.
Eliud Kipchoge, the 38 year old Kenyan former world marathon record holder and Olympic gold medalist has been honoured by his sponsor Nike, the world’s largest athletic shoes supplier.
On October 27, 2023, Nike unveiled the Eliud Kipchoge Track at its European Headquarters in the Netherlands and his statue at its headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. The track and statue are fitting tributes to Kipchoge’s legacy as one of the greatest marathon runners of all time.
“Monday was a special celebration as we unveiled the Eliud Kipchoge Track at the Nike European Headquarters in the Netherlands, while at the same time, Nike revealed a statue of me at the headquarters in Beaverton. Thank you, Nike, for the great partnership, together we run as one,” said Kipchoge on his Instagram page.
“20 years ago, Nike and I became partners in running. Since 2003, Nike has played a crucial role in my career, providing inspiration and innovation. Together, we have brought these elements to every athlete in the world,” said Kipchoge.
Eliud Kipchoge, widely regarded as one of the greatest marathon runners of all time, is the two-time Olympic marathon champion (2016 and 2020) and the former world record holder in the marathon with a time of 2:01:09 set at the 2022 Berlin Marathon. His record was broken by Kelvin Kiptum at the Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2023 with a time of 2:00:35. Kipchoge has run five of the nine fastest marathons in history.
He is a four-time London Marathon champion, and is touted to be the first man in history unofficially, to run a marathon under two hours in the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in 2019. He also broke the official marathon world record twice, with his fastest time of 2:01:09 set in Berlin.
Nike, Inc. is the world’s largest supplier of athletic shoes and apparel and a major manufacturer of sports equipment. It is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, United States. The company was founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight, and it officially became Nike, Inc. in 1971.
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