Eliud Kipchoge Completes First-Ever Marathon on African Soil in Cape Town

# Coming Home

<cite index="12-4,12-5">On Sunday, May 24, Eliud Kipchoge kicked off his 'World Tour' in Africa, finishing the Cape Town Marathon in 2:13:29 and placing 16th—his first marathon in more than six months.</cite> <cite index="16-1,16-3">The two-time world record holder and double Olympic champion crossed the finish line in a race won by Ethiopian Mohamed Esa, who timed 2:04:55.</cite>

<cite index="12-3">Sunday's marathon in Cape Town was Kipchoge's first in six months—and first ever official marathon on the African continent.</cite> Despite being born in Kenya and having spent his entire training career in East Africa, the 41-year-old had never before raced a full 42.2-kilometre marathon on his home continent in an official capacity.

<cite index="11-6,11-7">Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis was at the airport to welcome Kipchoge to the Mother City ahead of the race, along with CEO of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Clark Gardner, the event organising team from Faces, and media.</cite>

Kipchoge crossed the line to a standing ovation from thousands of spectators lining the route. <cite index="12-6,12-7">"Cape Town, this was a special day," Kipchoge said. "Today was a celebration of running on this beautiful course, supported by thousands of incredible fans singing and making music along the route, and by fellow runners sharing the same race."</cite>

Why Africa First

For Kipchoge, the choice to start his seven-continent tour in Cape Town was deeply symbolic. <cite index="13-23,13-24,13-25,13-26">"Africa is where my journey as a runner began and where the foundation of my success is deeply rooted," said Kipchoge. "To start this World Tour in Cape Town is very special. It is about celebrating the strength of African running and inspiring the next generation. To race my first ever marathon on the African continent holds deep meaning for me."</cite>

<cite index="13-3,13-4,13-5,13-6">The 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon served as the opening chapter of Eliud's Running World, a series of seven marathons across all continents designed to inspire communities and unite the world through running—a dream Kipchoge has held for years to make the world a running world.</cite> <cite index="13-8">The project also raises funds for the Eliud Kipchoge Foundation, focused on preserving the environment and providing education in areas that need it most.</cite>

<cite index="11-1,11-2">"Above all, I want to run a beautiful race with all 27,000 people who have registered to participate in the marathon. It will be a beautiful day, it will be a historic day for all of us, to assemble as Africans and run together, go through the finishing line, and make Cape Town a World Major Marathon," he added.</cite>

The Eight-Star Quest

<cite index="15-29">Kipchoge finished his seven-star journey on November 2, 2025, crossing the finish line of the New York City Marathon in 2:14:36—17th place, third marathon of the calendar year.</cite> <cite index="15-20,15-21,15-22,15-23">The Abbott World Marathon Majors star system awards one star for finishing each Major race, with the Seven Star medal being one of the most coveted achievements in distance running—as of the 2025 New York City Marathon, just 4,561 runners across 109 countries have done it.</cite>

But Cape Town offers Kipchoge something unprecedented. <cite index="15-1">If Cape Town earns its place among the World Marathon Majors in 2026, Eliud Kipchoge will have a chance to become the first eight-star finisher in history.</cite> <cite index="15-4">Abbott WMM confirmed that all finishers of the 2026 Cape Town Marathon will receive a provisional star—one that becomes fully official if the race passes its Stage 2 evaluation next May.</cite>

<cite index="13-27,13-28,13-29">The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has rapidly established itself as one of the leading races on the global running calendar—in 2026, more than 27,000 marathon runners lined up at the start. The event is currently a candidate for Abbott World Marathon Majors status, with the ambition of bringing Africa its first Major and creating a global stage where African athletes can compete on home soil.</cite>

Africa's Major Moment

The significance extends far beyond one man's résumé. <cite index="15-9,15-10,15-11">Of the 4,561 people who hold Seven Star status, just 57 are from Africa—that's 1.3% of the total, from a continent of 1.4 billion people, a continent that produces the majority of the world's greatest elite marathon runners, where Kenya and Ethiopia dominate podiums at every Major on the planet.</cite>

<cite index="15-13,15-14">Cape Town joining the series wouldn't just add a race to the map—it would put a Major on African soil for the first time, making the journey accessible to a continent that has always been at the edges of this particular club.</cite>

<cite index="11-4,11-5">Mayor Hill-Lewis said, "What an honour it is to welcome marathon royalty and arguably the greatest runner of all time to Cape Town for the 2026 instalment of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. As we look to secure this incredible race's status as an Abbott World Marathon Majors event, we are immensely proud that Eliud has also chosen it as the first marathon in his seven-continent challenge."</cite>

The Results

<cite index="17-3,17-4,17-5">Mohamed Esa of Ethiopia obliterated the course record to register 2:04:55 and claim an emphatic victory at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, competing just over a month after being forced to abandon his attempt at the Boston Marathon.</cite> <cite index="16-8">Another Ethiopian, Yihunilign Adane, came second in 2:04:59 as Kenyan Kalipus Lomwai took third place in 2:05:06.</cite> <cite index="17-18">Dera Dida of Ethiopia won the women's race in 2:23:18 as fellow Ethiopians Mestawut Fikir and Waganesh Amare were second and third.</cite>

<cite index="12-11,12-12">Kipchoge's result in Cape Town was better than his 17th-place finish in his last marathon appearance, at the New York City Marathon, on November 2, 2025, where he crossed the line in 02:14:36.</cite>

The Tour Continues

<cite index="12-13,12-14">The next stop in Kipchoge's world tour is in South America: the Porto Alegre Marathon in Brazil on July 12, followed by the Melbourne Marathon in Australia on October 11.</cite>

For a man who has broken two hours for the marathon (albeit in a non-official event), set two world records, and won two Olympic golds, the goal is no longer speed. <cite index="16-9,16-10">The race marks the start of the marathon great's Eliud Kipchoge World Tour through which he seeks to advocate for running as a way of creating world peace, cohesion among communities, environmental conservation and healthy living—not to break records but to capture hearts by spreading the gospel of running.</cite>

When the evaluation results come in next May, and if Cape Town is granted Major status, Kipchoge will hold a distinction no other runner has ever achieved: eight stars. On his home continent. In the twilight of a career that redefined what the human body can do over 42.2 kilometres.

<cite index="11-23,11-24">Clark Gardner said, "The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon believes deeply in celebrating African excellence and inspiring new possibilities across the continent, and welcoming the greatest marathon runner in history to race the streets of Cape Town marks an important milestone in that pursuit. Eliud represents the very best of what running can inspire."</cite>

Reporting drawn from Olympics.com, Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, Marathon Handbook, Capital FM Kenya, Athletics Weekly, SportPesa Kenya.