Marathoner Eliud Kipchoge, First to Break 2-Hour Barrier, to Visit South Korea for Amateur Race

Eliud Kipchoge, the first athlete to break the two-hour marathon barrier, is set to visit South Korea in December for a special event alongside amateur runners. The Korea Marathon Association announced on July 30 that the "Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge Athlete Invitation Marathon Race" will be held on December 5-6 in Geumsan County, Chungnam Province.

This event marks Kipchoge's first participation in a non-official race since achieving his historic sub-2-hour marathon at the 2026 London Marathon, where he completed the full course in 1 hour and 59 minutes and 30 seconds. The South Korean event will feature a single 14km race, with a total of 30,000 participants expected across the two days, with 15,000 runners each day.

Registration for the race will open on a first-come, first-served basis starting September 1. The association's president, Jang Young-ki, personally visited Kipchoge at his training camp in Nandi County, Kenya, on July 28 to secure his agreement to participate. Detailed plans for the event will be finalized in consultation with Kipchoge's management next month.