Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, widely regarded as the greatest marathoner of all time, earned close to $160,000 at the 2025 London Marathon, despite finishing sixth. The 40-year-old athlete received a $150,000 appearance fee and an additional $7,500 in prize money for his placement.
Speaking after the race, Kipchoge expressed contentment with his performance, stating, “I am happy with what I am doing. I am here not to prove anything to anyone at all but to run with the Olympic spirit.”
The men’s race was won by fellow Kenyan Sabastian Sawe, who clocked an impressive 2:02:27, marking the second-fastest time in the event’s history. Sawe broke away from the leading pack after the 30km mark, finishing 70 seconds ahead of Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, who secured second place in his marathon debut.
In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa set a new women’s-only world record with a time of 2:15:50, surpassing the previous record of 2:16:16 held by Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir. Assefa pulled away from Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei in the final stretch, with Jepkosgei finishing second in 2:18:44.
Kipchoge’s performance has reignited discussions about his potential retirement from competitive running. While some fans and commentators suggest it may be time for him to step away, Kipchoge’s focus on personal fulfillment and the Olympic spirit indicates he may have other goals in mind, including the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.
For now, Kipchoge continues to inspire with his enduring passion and dedication to the sport.
