President William Ruto has celebrated Eliud Kipchoge as a great legend despite his misfortune in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The head of state said that despite some people being angry with the two times Olympics marathoner winner, he is to be celebrated for being great.
“I know how people were disappointed. Many people I know made a lot of comments, how could Eliud not finish? But Eliud we celebrate you. You have held our flag high.” The president said.
Ruto hailed the “limitless” man as a great Kenyan, urging the citizens to criticise the athletes less and embrace them more.
He emphasised the need to embrace the athletes and not take them for granted, terming them as the great ambassadors to Kenya.
The President spoke on Thursday during a breakfast meeting with Team Kenya in the Paris 2024 Olympics at the Eldoret State Lodge.
Kipchoge’s quest in the games came to an abrupt end at the 30km mark due to a sharp pain in his waist.
In Paris, Kipchoge aimed to make history as the first man to win three consecutive Olympic marathon titles having secured the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo titles.
After the Paris debacle, Kipchoge says the focus now shifts to charting out new opportunities.
“Every competition has its downsides and Paris was not the best for me. I need to go back to the drawing board to see what opportunities are there for me to grab.” He stated.
Despite the setback, the five-time Berlin Marathon champion stressed that the Olympics is about more than just winning medals.
Kipchoge thanked his fans worldwide as well as in Kenya for their support throughout his illustrious career.
Apart from the five Berlin Marathon titles, Kipchoge also holds four London Marathon titles, as well as the 2021 Tokyo Marathon and 2014 Chicago Marathon titles.
Kipchoge is also a silver medallist from the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 5,000m as well as a bronze from the 2004 Athens Games in the same event.
