Eliud Kipchoge, the marathon’s greatest challenger, has sent a message to the next generation that it is not over yet.
The 41-year-old Kenyan made his Melbourne Marathon debut on Sunday, breaking the race record and delighting thousands of fans at the MCG finish.
Beating the old race mark by two seconds, his time of two hours nine minutes and 10 seconds over the new course gave Kipchoge his first marathon victory in three years.
Former Australian professional cyclist Jimmy Whelan rode the two-time Olympic champion and former world record holder for nearly 30km. Then Kipchoge stepped up and dominated the finish.
Kipchoge, who appeared to have just trained, then spent more than half an hour celebrating with fans at the MCG boundary fence.
He was mobbed by the media at the finish and took the chaos in his stride.
“The crowd is great – I’ve never seen a crowd like it,” he said. “Melbourne really is a sports city.
“I believe my body is still at its peak – still able to compete with the next generation. The oldest athlete is still competing, but I’m happy to be running with generation Zs.”
“I [increased] Speed after 30km to see if I can run well and beat it [race record]. My plan went well.”
Kipchoge has said repeatedly over the past few days that his visit to Melbourne is more than just another competition. This is the third leg of his world tour, where he will run marathons on every continent, including Antarctica.
He has also done some community work while in Melbourne and is very aware of the city’s rich sporting heritage.
“The experience is great – the Melbourne culture is wonderful,” he said.
“I saw myself in the last four days, sports can do miracles. It was four in one – the Olympics that finished in tennis and cricket in 1956, ran on the Formula 1 track.
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“I’ll be back in Melbourne next year to watch tennis, F1, see Melburnians play cricket. It’s the best track ever.”
Kipchoge could have finished a few seconds quicker but waved off the crowd to the finish on half a lap inside the MCG.
This is his second visit to Australia. The Kenyan finished ninth in the 2025 Sydney Marathon.
Australia’s Thomas Do Canto was second in 2:10:35 and Whelan was fifth. In the women’s race, Camille French of New Zealand won with 2:28:25, and Sinead Diver of Australia won with 2:28.49.
Australian Seth O’Donnell and New Zealander Georgie Gregec won the half marathon.
A woman was taken to hospital after she was hit by a car about 200 meters from the marathon route near Flinders Street station in the early hours of Sunday morning.
According to reports, after the car, which was seen driving erratically, hit the woman at 10.45, the surrounding police officers took out their weapons, turned around and drove away.
The woman was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and her condition is not known.