History chasing Kamworor heads back to London Marathon for an emotional return

Two-time New York City Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor is set for an emotional return to familiar ground this Sunday as he lines up for the London Marathon, aiming to relive and surpass his standout 2023 performance.

In the 2023 race, Kamworor delivered one of the finest races of his career, clocking a personal best of 2:04:23 over the 42km distance. The race was headlined by the late world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, who stormed to victory in 2:01:25, while Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola finished third. Kamworor’s time remains his fastest marathon to date, a mark he is determined to challenge once again on the streets of London.

“I know very well I am going to face steep competition because of the strong field, but I am well prepared and I will run well,” said Kamworor.

Now 33, he returns with confidence and hunger, fully aware of the elite field assembled for what promises to be a high-tempo race. Despite the competition, he remains optimistic about his chances. He has expressed belief in his preparation and readiness to deliver another strong performance.

“Motivation is top notch having trained with Eliud Kipchoge, Faith Kipyegon and many athletes who have won the Olympics and world titles. The atmosphere was great and made me feel I was in the right place. So for sure we know we will achieve something and we are heading to greatness because of their guidance and encouragement and leading the way,’’ he charged.

This year’s race carries added intrigue as Kamworor will share the start line with close friend and training partner Joshua Cheptegei, one of Uganda’s greatest distance runners. He will also faces stiff competition from defending champion, Sebastian Sawe, and 2022 winner Amos Kipruto, adding further depth to an already stacked field.

Kamworor credits his high motivation levels to training alongside world-class athletes, including Eliud Kipchoge and Faith Kipyegon. The environment, he says, has pushed him to believe in achieving greatness.

He heads into London off an impressive run of form. His 2025 season included a second-place finish at the Barcelona Half Marathon, victory at the Rotterdam Marathon in 2:04:33, and another win at the Antrim Coast Half Marathon. Despite a seventh-place finish at the Chicago Marathon, he bounced back strongly by winning the Madrid 10km.

With momentum on his side, Kamworor now returns to London chasing history once again.