Is this the end for Kipchoge?

What makes the most sense is that he's a bit older than his stated age, but not in his mid-40s or something ridiculous.

If he is 3 years older than reported, he would have been 21 when he beat Bekele and El Guerrouj in Paris. On the other side, he would have been 37 last fall when he "broke 2". Both of these ages sound plausible to me, although he certainly has had remarkable longevity!

Probably for the best, get out like Usain Bolt before the testing catches up

Father time checking in wrote:

No marathons this year, probably not next spring, Olympics a maybe. Not only will nobody else be running anything, but the so-called 35-year-old World Record Holder and best marathoner ever isn't getting any younger.

He's shown he is pretty resilient. He's done when he competes again and decides he's had enough.

I don't think you can say the inability to compete means he's done.

But perhaps because you say so, this is indeed the end for him. Oh no!!! He should read this!!

LateRunnerPhil wrote:

Do you know how most babies in Africa are born? .

Vaginally?

Generally it's been said that elite marathoners have a limited number of races in them before they aren't competititve anymore.

Kipchoge has been the exception so far and maybe having over a year off racing will prolong him further?

they keep olympic samples for 8 years, and he's most likely running it next year, so what's the safety in just hoping they don't catch him by 2029?

Not a super intense race but at least Bekele raced this year in the London Half

Father time checking in wrote:

No marathons this year, probably not next spring, Olympics a maybe. Not only will nobody else be running anything, but the so-called 35-year-old World Record Holder and best marathoner ever isn't getting any younger.

if you don't think he's 35, then it just shows how truly talented he is....

Someone already mentioned Carlos Lopes in this thread, and you could argue that's what happened with him.

From the 76 Games until 81 or 82 he was all but invisible, injuries largely the reason.

But if this 'break' is helping Kichoge, why wouldn't it help Bekele (as someone else mentioned)?

Hardloper wrote:

He'll set up his own like the Ineos thing or else do one of the few marathons that happens

I've been wanting to see Kipchoge v. Bekele at their peak since... maybe 3 years ago. Can somebody please do this even if it ends up being unofficial like Ineos? Give them plenty of time to get ready. Add in the pacers if you like. Let's just settle the question everybody is asking.

Watch the video someone posted on here. Ones 18 and the other 21. Sounds like their primes to me.

Hindsight is 2020 wrote:

He’s done breaking the world record.

Gold, world record, sub 2, amazing consistency. There’s nothing else left. We all know going sub 2 for a legit Thon is likely out of the cards. I don’t believe it will ever happen.

He will likely go on a twilight retirement tour. Boston, New York, Tokyo...

Off course it's possible, in fact i would call it a certainly with these springs, i think if you line Kipchoge, Bekele and Kammowar up in the right conditions one of them would do it.

Obviously you can't conclusively go on looks. Just do an image search for basketball player Greg Oden. He looked like he was 40 at Ohio State. And he's early 30's now, but could easily pass for 50.

Though thinking Kipchoge is 2 or 3 years older than his "official" age is not an unreasonable opinion.

If you deliberately put an age on your passport that is 3, 4 years or in other case (Ethiopians) 5/6 younger that your really age is like if you are full of ped and compete against runners totally clean.

Now imagine an 18 years old European or American that in a race got to compete against africans that are 24 /25.Thats not fair at all. That is cheating

dodge ball wrote:

Bekele is the GOAT wrote:

Kenny will snag the Marathon WR before he hangs it up!!

Would love to see him win gold as well. It could happen!

He is more likely to DNF at the marathon than get the world record.

Hahaha this is such a tiresome line and completely ignorant.

Clearly you didn't watch him smash Farah's Course record at the Big Half this year, or come within two seconds of the WR last year at Berlin.

He has found his form on the roads. You are stuck in 2016.

Struggle for 10 years? What the hell are you smoking? He switched to the Marathon in 2014, breaking the Paris Marathon course record in 2:05, one of the fastest debuts ever.

In 2016 he ran the second fastest time ever at Berlin in 2:03:03.

And we all know what he's done this year at the London half and last year in Berlin.

Yes he's had some bad races but "10 years of struggle" isn't even close to accurate.

This is Jim Kiler wrote:

But if this 'break' is helping Kichoge, why wouldn't it help Bekele (as someone else mentioned)?

Because Kipchoge is super consistent and disciplined even with uncertainty and long off season, while Bekele tends to gain weight and lack motivation. He always has short buildups, injuries and spends most of the time just getting back to the starting point to be able to start proper training. It might be too much to ask to get him back into shape once more after this corona thing is over, while Kipchoge will start preparing early, not lose so much shape in the first place and will do everything right in the buildup.

He did it all. Nothing left to prove. WR, Olympic gold. Sub two farce. And a dominant win streak

You didn't answer any of my questions. Also, do you honestly believe most Africans don't know their ages? Like seriously?