NAIROBI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- For years fans have taunted marathon organizers to pair Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge and Berlin winner Kenenisa Bekele in a race to confirm who is the greatest.
The two have been primed as the greatest marathon runners of their generation owing to their fast times posted in several courses across Europe and America.
Not that it will be the first time the two will be galloping down the road stride by stride but after their recent achievement, it would only be fair to engage the two and put to rest the debate on who is the greatest.
Last year, Kipchoge, who only has one loss in his 14 marathon runs, became the first man to run the marathon under two hours. He clocked 1:59:40 in Vienna, a year after he had broken the world record in Berlin at 2:01:39.
In 2019, Bekele announced the world his talent when he won Berlin missing Kipchoge's record by sheer two seconds clocking 2:01.41. Now the two will face off in London on April 26.
"I don't only want to win, but to achieve," that was Kipchoge's response to reporters on his expectation in London. "You can define what 'achieve' means on your own."
That would only mean one thing, the world marathon record of 2:01:39, which he set at the 2018 Berlin marathon, is about to be crushed yet again.
Hugh Brasher, London Marathon Event Director said there has been a worldwide clamor for the two men to face each other again.
"This is a match-up of two of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen and two men who already have their names in the record books. It is truly fitting that this match takes place at this year's London marathon. It is the head to head the world is waiting to see," Brasher said on Friday.
Bekele, whose best finish in the London Marathon was second in 2017, said: "I feel like I have unfinished business here and I would love to win this beautiful race.
"I am looking forward to racing against Eliud once again. We have had many great battles over the years on the track, roads, and cross-country. He is a special athlete who proved that again with his magnificent achievements last year," said Bekele.
"I feel like my win in Berlin proved that I am still capable of winning the biggest races in the world and in world-class times. I am really looking forward to what I can do in London," he added.
That indeed confirms that there will be no love lost as Kipchoge takes on Bekele in what would be their fifth battle in the marathon.
The two first met in 2014 in Chicago with Kipchoge getting the better of Bekele. Kipchoge won in 2:04:11, a minute and 40 seconds ahead of Bekele, who finished in fourth.
On their second meeting on the road in London back in 2016, Kipchoge took another win. Kipchoge won in 2:03:05, over three minutes ahead of Bekele, who grabbed the last spot on the podium at 2:06:36.
The next stop was in Berlin with Kipchoge, fresh off his unofficial marathon record of 2:00:25 at Nike's Breaking2 attempt in Monza, Italy in 2017.
Again Kipchoge stormed to the win in Berlin. Bekele lined up for the race as well but did not finish, dropping out clutching to his stomach.
London 2018 was the last meeting between Bekele and Kipchoge. The Kenyan won yet another marathon, while Bekele placed sixth, still winless against Kipchoge.
After so many years of Kipchoge dominating Bekele on the track, the tables turned when the two men hit the road. In London 2020 will it offer a different outcome, only time will tell.
