To my knowledge (may be wrong) all of Bekele's marathons have been flat and fast; London, Berlin, Valencia... He could have a real edge on the really fast guys if he can cope with the hills better than them, and run faster than the current 2:02/3 guys
To my knowledge (may be wrong) all of Bekele's marathons have been flat and fast; London, Berlin, Valencia... He could have a real edge on the really fast guys if he can cope with the hills better than them, and run faster than the current 2:02/3 guys
Honestly think he could win.
I've thought about this. I think the hills take more out of the older guys than the younger guys, so could wear out Eliud and Kenny.
That said, my personal view is that Kenny of the last few years doesn't train enough. And if he totally commits between now and Paris I wouldn't rule him out of taking gold.
I’m all for clean sport but this is the one race where I’d love to see unhinged doping of these. Two juiced up old heads getting after it like the old days
I wanna see kipchoge and bekele go 1st and 2nd. That will be a fantastic career ending race for both!
Crazy to think that the greatest ever distance runner started running marathons in 2014 and 2024 is the first year he gets to run on road for his country in the Olympics.
The ESPN article in Spanish this cites does say that these teams have been confirmed by Ethiopia's federation. So unless they're making this up, this looks more solid than the Kenyan news source (which was deleted).
Incredible. If I had to bet my life on it, I would bet on Lemma, since he has the most recent win at a hilly marathon. But if I had to bet my next paycheck on it (I make the LRC average of $20,000/week after taxes), I would bet on Bekele.
Incredible. If I had to bet my life on it, I would bet on Lemma, since he has the most recent win at a hilly marathon. But if I had to bet my next paycheck on it (I make the LRC average of $20,000/week after taxes), I would bet on Bekele.
Well a fool and his money - it’s great he has been selected and it’s truly a better race if he a kipchoge are healthy and fit but it’s probably only 50/50 he makes it to the starting line.
The Duel of the Century - Written by AI A fictional story about Kenenisa Bekele and Eliud Kipchoge racing each other at the 2024 Olympic marathon in Paris Chapter 1: The Build-Up It was the most anticipated race in the history of marathon running. Two legends of the sport, Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia and Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya, were set to face each other at the 2024 Olympic marathon in Paris. Both men had broken the world record in the past, both had won multiple Olympic and world titles, and both had dominated the marathon scene for years. But they had never raced each other over the classic 26.2 miles distance. Until now. The rivalry between the two had been brewing for a long time. Bekele, the older of the two, had been the king of the track, winning three Olympic gold medals and five world titles in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. He had also set the world records in both events, which still stood to this day. He had switched to the marathon in 2014, hoping to emulate his compatriot Haile Gebrselassie, who had become the greatest marathoner of his generation after a stellar track career. Bekele had shown glimpses of his potential, winning the Berlin and London marathons and coming within two seconds of breaking the world record in 2016. But he had also struggled with injuries, inconsistency, and motivation, and had dropped out of several races, including the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. Kipchoge, on the other hand, had been the undisputed master of the marathon, winning 12 out of 13 races he had entered, including the 2016 and 2020 Olympic gold medals. He had also broken the world record in 2018, clocking an astonishing 2:01:39 in Berlin, and had become the first person to run a sub-two-hour marathon in a special event in 2019, albeit with the help of pacemakers and other aids. Kipchoge had started his career as a track runner, winning the 2003 world title and the 2004 Olympic bronze medal in the 5,000 meters, but he had never been able to beat Bekele in a major championship. He had moved up to the marathon in 2013, and had since established himself as the greatest of all time in the event. The two had met only once on the roads, at the 2017 London marathon, where Kipchoge had prevailed in a thrilling sprint finish, with Bekele finishing third, just six seconds behind. That race had whetted the appetite of the fans and the media, who had been clamoring for a rematch ever since. But it had never materialized, until the 2024 Olympics. The build-up to the race had been intense, with both camps trading barbs and boasts in the press. Bekele had claimed that he was in the best shape of his life, and that he was ready to take down Kipchoge and reclaim his throne. He had also hinted that he had a secret weapon, a new training method that had given him an edge. Kipchoge had responded by saying that he was not afraid of anyone, and that he had prepared meticulously for the race. He had also dismissed Bekele's secret weapon as a gimmick, and said that the only thing that mattered was the performance on the day. The stage was set for a epic showdown, a duel of the century, a clash of the titans. The whole world was watching, waiting to see who would emerge victorious in the ultimate test of endurance, speed, and willpower. Chapter 2: The Race The race day dawned bright and clear, with a slight breeze and a temperature of 18 degrees Celsius. The course was flat and fast, starting and finishing at the iconic Eiffel Tower, and passing by some of the most famous landmarks of Paris, such as the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, and the Notre Dame. The crowd was huge and enthusiastic, lining the streets and cheering for the runners. The atmosphere was electric, as the anticipation reached a fever pitch. The elite men's field was loaded with talent, featuring some of the best marathoners in the world, such as Wilson Kipsang of Kenya, Mosinet Geremew of Ethiopia, Galen Rupp of the USA, and Mo Farah of Great Britain. But all eyes were on the two main protagonists, Bekele and Kipchoge, who stood side by side at the front of the pack, wearing their respective national colors of green, yellow, and red for Ethiopia, and black, red, and green for Kenya. They looked calm and confident, exchanging a brief nod and a smile, before focusing on the task ahead. The gun went off, and the race began. The pace was fast from the start, as the runners jostled for position. Bekele and Kipchoge stayed close to each other, matching each other's stride and rhythm. They seemed to be in a world of their own, oblivious to the rest of the field. They passed the first 5 kilometers in 14:35, well ahead of the world record pace. The crowd roared, sensing that they were witnessing something special. The race continued at a blistering speed, with Bekele and Kipchoge leading the way, followed by a small group of chasers, including Kipsang, Geremew, Rupp, and Farah. The gap between the leaders and the chasers gradually widened, as the pace proved too hot for most of the runners. By the 10 kilometer mark, which Bekele and Kipchoge reached in 28:50, the gap was 15 seconds. By the 15 kilometer mark, which they reached in 43:10, the gap was 30 seconds. By the 20 kilometer mark, which they reached in 57:30, the gap was 45 seconds. It was clear that the race was a two-man affair, and that the world record was in serious danger. The halfway point came at 1:01:05, a new world best for the half marathon. Bekele and Kipchoge looked unfazed, as they maintained their relentless pace. They exchanged a few words, as if to encourage each other, and then resumed their silent duel. They seemed to be in perfect harmony, as if they were running as one. The crowd was in awe, as they cheered and clapped for the two phenomenal athletes. The second half of the race was more of the same, with Bekele and Kipchoge running shoulder to shoulder, pushing each other to the limit. They passed the 25 kilometer mark in 1:11:55, the 30 kilometer mark in 1:26:25, and the 35 kilometer mark in 1:40:55. They were still on world record pace, and showed no signs of slowing down. The chasers were now more than a minute behind, and had no chance of catching up. The race was a battle between the two legends, and the outcome was still uncertain. The decisive moment came at the 40 kilometer mark, which Bekele and Kipchoge reached in 1:55:25. Bekele suddenly surged, increasing his speed and breaking away from Kipchoge. It was his secret weapon, his final move, his bid for glory. He had been saving his energy for this moment, and he unleashed it with a ferocious burst. Kipchoge was caught off guard, and tried to respond, but he could not match Bekele's acceleration. He watched as Bekele pulled away, creating a gap of a few meters, then a few seconds, then a few hundred meters. He realized that he had been outsmarted, and outkicked, by his rival. He felt a pang of disappointment, but also a sense of admiration, for Bekele's brilliant strategy and execution. Bekele ran the last 2 kilometers like a man possessed, driven by the prospect of victory and history. He looked at his watch, and saw that he was on track to break the world record by a huge margin. He felt a surge of joy, and a wave of relief, as he approached the finish line. He crossed it in 2:01:02, smashing Kipchoge's best mark by 37 seconds. He raised his arms in triumph, and let out a scream of ecstasy. He had done it. He had beaten Kipchoge, and he had become the fastest marathoner of all time.
He had proven himself to be the greatest runner of his generation, and perhaps of any generation. He had written his name in the annals of history, and in the hearts of millions of fans. Kipchoge crossed the finish line in 2:01:45, still a remarkable time, and still faster than his previous world record. He was second, but he was gracious in defeat. He congratulated Bekele, and hugged him, and smiled. He had given his best, but he had met his match. He had lost the race, but he had not lost his dignity, or his legacy. He was still a legend, and still a champion. He had shown the world what it means to run with courage, and with grace. The crowd gave a standing ovation to the two heroes, who had delivered the most thrilling and the most memorable race in the history of marathon running. They had witnessed a duel of the century, a clash of the titans, a spectacle of the sport. They had witnessed history, and they had witnessed greatness.
Just FYI, I messaged with Jos Hermens (Bekele's agent) and Gianni Demadonna (Lemma/Tola's agent) and they said (as of Thursday) that the federation had not released the teams yet. Hermens suspected the ESPN article was based on the initial Pulse Sports article, which has since been deleted.
Bekele told Hermens he thought the teams might be named next week.
