Eliud Kipchoge will line up in New York on Sunday, November 2, 2025, with one clear goal, to cross the finish line and complete his journey across the world’s biggest marathons.

The two-time Olympic champion says the achievement, which will give him a seventh star after competing in all Abbott World Marathon Majors, matters more than chasing fast times.

Kipchoge said finishing the race will make him feel like a complete athlete.

“I believe that when I get a seven-star medal, I will be a real marathoner. By running all the major marathons,” he said.

“My happiness is seeing people actually get interested in me and what I’m actually selling; I’m selling the sport, I’m selling the sport as a movement, and that’s what people are buying.”

Legacy beyond winning

The 41-year-old, widely regarded as the greatest marathon runner in history, has spent more than twenty years shaping his legacy. He has won 11 World Marathon Majors and set two world records. Today, though, he says his mission goes beyond medals and records.

“People are buying why I’m doing it, not because I’m doing it,” he said. “And the reason why I’m doing it is because I expressed running and sport as a movement. And this is a movement whereby we make this world to be united, freedom of expression and association. There is no place you can express yourself and be happier than in sports.”

Kipchoge still wants to perform well in New York, but he also recognises the next generation is rising. He has made peace with not winning every race and sees value in his experience. He said he lines up to push himself and is proud to still compete at 41 against much younger runners.

For him, running has always been a way to inspire others, and he plans to stay close to the sport even if today marks his final competitive race.