Kenya’s marathon superstar Eliud Kipchoge hopes to use the Berlin Marathon as preparation for the 2024 Olympic Games in France.

The 38-year-old marathoner announced he would be returning to Berlin Marathon and now has revealed what he wants from the event.

Kipchoge hopeful

“Good organization and the timeframe are what make Berlin a good race to prepare for next year [Olympic Games]. I trust that with the timeframe, September towards next year is a good time to run Berlin, come back, have a race, start again, and I’ll have enough time to train,” Kipchoge told Letsrun.com.

There have been only three men who have won back-to-back Olympic marathons: Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia in 1960 and 1964; East Germany’s Waldemar Cierpinski in 1976 and 1980; and Kipchoge himself, who did it in 2016 and 2021.

No one has ever won three, but Kichoge is confident he can do it when he takes part in the upcoming Olympic Games.

“I would be the first man to win back-to-back-to-back. I am really looking for that. That would be real, real history,” Kipchoge said when asked if he had to choose between winning all six World Marathon Majors or winning a third Olympic gold medal.

Boston struggle

The Olympic champion also spoke about his struggle in the Boston Marathon, where he finished sixth in April. The defeat was just his second marathon loss in almost a decade.

“You have no control over the past, but you can control what you have in your hand, and you can plan for the future. I have no control over what happened last April in Boston.

“I have no business actually thinking about the disappointment. I have to control what’s going on now and prepare for Berlin,” Kipchoge said.

As Kipchoge inches closer to his career sunset, there is an emerging marathon star in Kelvin Kiptum. The 23-year-old ran 2:01:53 to win Valencia and 2:01:25 to break Kipchoge’s course record in London in his first two marathons, both with massive negative splits.

Heir apparent

Those records made many tip Kiptum to take a run at Kipchoge’s 2:01:09 world record this fall, but Kiptum’s exploits and a promising career do not bother Kipchoge at all.

“Kiptum has all the power to do what he wants. I have done enough. I trust that what I have done in the world will be respected.

“In any case, I wish him well. But I aim to make Berlin a good and beautiful race. I want to enjoy it for the sixth time. I want to run a good race and cross the finish line by celebrating. I’m not in a rush for anything. Because I am the person to run under 2:00. If Kiptum runs under 2:00, he’s always the second. I’ll be the first one. So I have no worries at all.”