Cape Town – Kenyan marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge arrived at Cape Town International Airport on Tuesday, igniting excitement for the 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon and marking the start of a glittering race week in the Mother City.
(Source: capetownmarathon.com)
The 41-year-old two-time Olympic champion touched down ahead of Sunday’s 42.2km race, his first-ever competitive full marathon on African soil.
Organisers and fans greeted the superstar, who is using the event to launch “Eliud’s Running World,” an ambitious tour of seven marathons across seven continents over the next two years.
(Source: facebook.com)
Kipchoge’s decorated career includes gold medals in the marathon at the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
He is an 11-time Abbott World Marathon Majors winner and former world record holder, with his fastest official time of 2:01:09 set at the 2022 Berlin Marathon.
He also became the first human to break the two-hour barrier, clocking 1:59:40 in the 2019 INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna.
(Source: en.wikipedia.org)
A candidate for Abbott World Marathon Majors status, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has grown rapidly into Africa’s premier event.
Around 27 000 runners are expected to tackle the scenic route starting near Green Point Stadium.
The course winds through the city’s vibrant suburbs, past iconic landmarks including Table Mountain, the promenade, and historic sites, offering a stunning backdrop of sea and mountain vistas.
(Source: capetownmarathon.com)
Kipchoge will face strong competition, including teammate Maru Teferi, South African star Elroy Gelant, and others.
For the Kenyan icon, the race holds deep personal significance.
“Africa is where my journey began,” he has said, emphasising his desire to inspire the next generation and celebrate the continent’s running heritage.
(Source: facebook.com)
Beyond competition, Kipchoge aims to raise funds for education and environmental causes through his foundation.
Race day on 24 May promises electric crowds lining the streets as Cape Town hosts one of its biggest sporting spectacles.
(Source: capetownmarathon.com)
*Disclaimer: This article was compiled using AI tool Grok on X and may contain inaccuracies
