Eliud Kipchoge reacts after receiving Princess of Asturias Award
Marathoner Eliud Kipchoge has expressed gratitude after receiving the Princess of Asturias Award.
Kipchoge was given the award on Friday, October 20, 2023, in Spain. The award recognizes notable figures in the humanities, sciences, and public affairs.
Named after the Princess of Asturias, the title of the heir to the Spanish throne, which is currently Princess Leonor, the awards are a major event on the Spanish royal family's annual calendar.
"Receiving the Princess of Asturias Award tonight fulfils me with honour, as it’s an acknowledgement for something that I’ve believed in thoroughly throughout my career. To some, running is simply an act of physical movement. But ever since I started running as a young boy in Kapsabet, Kenya, I knew running meant something much greater than that. Running is not just physical movement. Running is a vehicle that has the power to unite us," Kipchoge stated.
Kipchoge's records
Kipchoge, regarded as the greatest marathoner of all time, has won major titles in all events he has participated in.
Kipchoge was the world record holder in the marathon with a time of 2:01:09 set at the 2022 Berlin Marathon. However, the record was broken by Kelvin Kiptum at the Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2023, with a time of 2:00:35.
Kipchoge has run five of the nine fastest marathons in history.
"We can only achieve greatness if we fully believe that there is nothing holding us back. There are no limits, just what our mind tricks us to believe. So, I urge to you see the world this way. To see the world without limits and to see all that is possible. A running world is a happy world. A running world is a united world," he added.
Others who were feted in the Princess of Asturias Awards include Haruki Murakami, Bonnie Bassler, Everett Peter Greenberg and Meryl Streep.
