Eliud Kipchoge Wins First Marathon in Three Years in Melbourne

Eliud Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic champion, won his first marathon in three years at the Melbourne Marathon in Australia. He finished the race in 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 10 seconds, which is two seconds under the race record, on Sunday. This victory marks his first since the Berlin Marathon in 2023 and is part of his 'World Tour' campaign aimed at raising funds for various causes. Kipchoge, who is 41 years old and a former world record-holder, announced in 2025 his intention to complete marathons on all seven continents, including Antarctica, over a two-year period. Melbourne was the third stop on this tour, following races in South Africa and Brazil. Kipchoge broke away from the pack in the last 10 kilometers, with part of the course utilizing the Australian Formula One track at Albert Park, and he finished at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). 'On the course, it was really wonderful; I enjoyed seeing people standing, cheering, and shouting my name,' Kipchoge said after the race. He noted that he could have run faster but slowed down at the MCG to wave to fans. 'It was actually different – running on a beautiful course, but also running on the Formula One track, and above all else, finishing on a cricket ground,' he added. Kipchoge expressed confidence in his abilities, stating, 'I believe that my body is still peaking – still able to compete with the next generation.' Following Kipchoge, Australian Thomas Do Canto finished second with a time of 2:10:35, and compatriot Reece Edwards placed third at 2:14:33. In the women's race, New Zealand's Camille French won with a time of 2:28:25, followed by Australian Sinead Diver at 2:28:49 and Nichola Sheridan of Ireland at 2:29:13.