Kipchoge has his chance here to seal his legend status. To make it unchallenged for now, if even for only the next decade or so, that he is the GOAT of this classic distance and in the conversation for the greatest ever distance runner. Back to back Olympic gold would be a crowning achievement near the end of his glittering marathon career. 8 Major wins: London (4), Berlin (3), and Chicago. WR holder and first man sub 2, even if it was in ‘special’ circumstances. By the start of the games, it will be 17 years since he ran his PB over 5000m on the track as a 19yo. That time still stands as the 12th fastest performance all-time.