Kenyan marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge returned to the top of the podium on Sunday, October 11, 2026, after winning the Melbourne Marathon in Australia in a course-record time of 2:09:10.
The 41-year-old two-time Olympic marathon champion broke the previous course record of 2:09:12 by two seconds, delivering an impressive performance in his debut appearance at the event.
Kipchoge made his decisive move in the latter stages of the 42.2-kilometre race, pulling away from his challengers inside the final 10 kilometres before crossing the finish line at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Australia’s Thomas Do Canto finished second in 2:10:35, one minute and 25 seconds behind the Kenyan great.The victory marked Kipchoge’s first marathon win since September 2023, when he triumphed at the Berlin Marathon.
It also added another milestone to the career of one of the most accomplished distance runners in history.Melbourne was the third stop on Kipchoge’s ambitious global running tour, through which he aims to compete in marathons across all seven continents and inspire the next generation of runners.
Despite being 41, the Kenyan icon continues to demonstrate his competitiveness on the international stage, reinforcing his reputation as one of marathon running’s all-time greats
