Eliud Kipchoge Sends Timely Reminder to History-Making Sabastian Sawe - ‘It Can Go Still Lower’

Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge believes the marathon world record is destined to be broken again, crediting the relentless drive of the sport's new generation.

The 41-year-old, who set world records in 2018 and 2022, takes pride in having laid the groundwork for today's athletes. He feels his achievements, particularly his sub-two-hour marathon, have instilled a "no human is limited" mindset in the current crop of runners.

"The next generation will run more because the next generation now doesn't know where the limits are, and the sport will be interesting in the future," Kipchoge stated in an interview with Olympics.com ahead of the Berlin Marathon.

A two-time Olympic champion, Kipchoge has a storied career filled with remarkable milestones. Among his proudest moments are his five Berlin Marathon titles and becoming the first person to run a marathon in under two hours during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, an unofficial record, in October 2019.

"My best memories of the Berlin Marathon are 2018 and 2022, when I broke the two records," said Kipchoge, who is also preparing for the Oceania leg of his Running World Tour in Melbourne.

"Breaking the world record in 2018 was very special. It really showed me that I was capable of doing more than just crossing the line first. That is when I believed. The achievement inspired me more to push my limits and see what was possible when I put my mind into it."

While his 2018 record was a personal triumph, Kipchoge views his 2019 sub-two-hour run as a collective achievement for humanity.

"I removed the thinking from human minds about the limits," the four-time London Marathon champion explained, referring to his 1:59:40 time. "And for now, I think the whole population now doesn't believe in limits. That's why I'm really grateful and proud of the 1:59 challenge."

This barrier-breaking mentality appears to have taken root. At this year's London Marathon, Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe officially shattered the two-hour mark, setting a new world record of 1:59:30. Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha also finished with a sub-two-hour time, clocking 1:59:40 for second place.

"Seven years down the line, we've got two people actually running under two hours," Kipchoge noted. "I think it can still go lower. If you say something through your heart and through your mind, then you can do it. I've always been an example to them."