Kipchoge reiterates desire to meet Barack Obama

Marathon king Eliud Kipchoge has restated his desire to meet former US President Barack Obama after expressing that wish last month when he completed the INEOS159 Challenge.

The Olympic champion said in a Skype interview he was ‘overwhelmed’ by Obama’s response to the achievement that saw him conquer the mythical sub-two hour marathon.

In the day after his successful record attempt that drew extra-ordinary international acclaim and caught Obama’s attention, he applauded Kipchoge for his “remarkable examples of humanity’s ability.”

That congratulatory tweet included Brigid Kosgei who had broken one of the sports longest standing records by smashing Paula Radcliffe’s 16-year-old women’s marathon world record.

Kipchoge thanked Obama in a reply to his tweet, saying the former president has inspired him and added ‘it would be my greatest honour if we could meet, and discuss how we can make this world a running world.’

Dear Mr. Obama, Thank you for your special words. In life we hope to inspire others. Thank you for inspiring me. It would be my greatest honour if we could meet, and discuss how we can make this world a running world. As a running world is a peaceful world. #NoHumanIsLimited

— Eliud Kipchoge – EGH🇰🇪 (@EliudKipchoge) October 14, 2019

And on Saturday, the 34-year-old repeated that wish after being crowned Male Athlete of the Year to cap an astonishing 2019 in which he broke the World marathon record and became the first human to run the distance under two hours.

“It was a good response that got me overwhelmed and I hope in future I meet Barack Obama in person. Remember he is the  first black American to become the President of the United States and is the best believer of No Human is Limited which I’ll continue to advance,” Kipchoge said.

Kipchoge’s needed only 1:59:40 to run the marathon distance in Vienna, Austria but that mark will not count for record purposes due to the controlled conditions under which it was achieved.

And Kipchoge backed future athletes to break the barrier under normal running conditions.

“I’m happy to be the first human being to run under two hours and I think it’s big inspiration to the whole world and the present athletes which I think in the near future they will run under two hours and I believe in one of these big city marathons running under two hours is possible,” Kipchoge added.