Marathon world recorder Eliud Kipchoge revealed that he struggled with pains during the 2023 Boston Marathon in Massachusetts on Tuesday.
Kipchoge finished the long-distance race in a surprising sixth place with a time of 2:09:23 which made it his third loss in 17 career marathons.
The 38-year-old disclosed that he had some problems with his upper leg and he held on to finish the race rather than quit.
“That’s where the problem is [leg],” Kipchoge told reporters. “I tried to do what was necessary, but it was not working.
“A lot of talking was going on in my mind but I said, ‘Hey, I can’t quit.’ They say it’s important to win, but it’s great to participate and finish.”
The 2023 Boston Marathon was Kipchoge’s first race in the American city and he has congratulated his fellow Kenyan Evan Chebet who was the first person to cross the finish line.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist will turn his attention to hitting top fitness ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest later in the year.
