Eliud Kipchoge Finishes 16th in Cape Town as Marathon Legend Launches World Peace Tour
Two-time Olympic champion and marathon great Eliud Kipchoge finished 16th at the Cape Town Marathon on May 24, clocking 2:13:29 in his debut race on African soil — the first stop of his Eliud Kipchoge World Tour promotin
Eliud Kipchoge crossed the finish line in Cape Town on Sunday morning in 16th place, more than eight minutes behind the winner — but for the 41-year-old Kenyan marathon legend, the race was never about the clock.
Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder, clocked 2:13:29 at the Cape Town Marathon on May 24, while Ethiopia's Huseyidin Mohammed won in 2:04:55. Another Ethiopian, Yihunilign Adane, finished second in 2:04:59, with Kenya's Kalipus Lomwai taking third in 2:05:06.
A New Mission: Running for Peace
The Cape Town race marks the launch of Kipchoge's Eliud Kipchoge World Tour, an ambitious initiative through which the marathon great will run one race on each continent to promote peace, cohesion, environmental conservation, and healthy living.
"I will be running in a marathon in each of the world's continents — not to break records but to capture hearts by spreading the gospel of running," Kipchoge said when he unveiled the tour after the 2025 New York Marathon.
For Kipchoge, who has long been one of Kenya's most celebrated ambassadors, the tour represents a shift from competitive racing to advocacy. At 41, and having achieved nearly every accolade the sport offers, the marathon icon is using his platform to champion causes beyond the finish line.
Why Cape Town?
Cape Town was chosen as the African leg of the tour, giving Kipchoge his first competitive marathon on the continent where his legend was born. The two-time Olympic champion (Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020) has raced across Europe, Asia, and North America — but never before in Africa.
The symbolic return to African soil resonated with fans across the diaspora. While Kipchoge's finishing time of 2:13:29 is well off his world-record pace, the Kenyan great made clear that speed was not the goal.
What the Diaspora Should Know
Kipchoge's slower time in Cape Town should not be read as decline — it is a deliberate pivot. The Kenyan has spoken openly about his desire to use running as a force for social good, and the World Tour is designed to inspire participation in the sport at the grassroots level, not to chase personal bests.
Ethiopian runners claimed the top two spots in Cape Town, a reminder of the fierce East African rivalry that has defined distance running for decades. Kenya's Kalipus Lomwai, finishing third, ensured the podium remained an East African affair.
What Comes Next
Kipchoge's World Tour will continue through 2026 and into 2027, with races planned on every continent. The marathon legend has not yet announced the next stop, but European and Asian marathons are likely candidates.
For Kenyans abroad, Kipchoge's tour offers a chance to see the national icon race in cities they now call home — and to support a message of unity, health, and environmental stewardship that transcends borders.
Reporting drawn from Capital Sports, Pulse Sports Kenya.