Kenyan Two-time Olympic gold medalist Eliud Kipchoge and defending women's champion Perez Jepchirchir On Thursday, he joined this year's star-studded marathon team. paris olympicssaid an athletics official.
The East African track and field powerhouse has halved the provisional team of 20 athletes it named in December.
Of the 10 distance runners, only six make it to the final list for the men's and women's teams.
Kipchoge, 39, was selected along with two-time Boston Marathon champions Benson Kipruto, Timothy Kiplagat and Vincent Kipkemboi Getich.
2023 Berlin Marathon runner-up and newcomer Alexander Mutiso also participated.
Kipchoge is aiming to become the first athlete to win three Olympic marathon gold medals, following his success in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021.
Last month, he struggled in the 2024 Tokyo Marathon, finishing 10th behind champions Kipurto (2:02:16) and Kiplagat (2:02:55).
The race was held less than a month after the world record holder's victory. Kelvin Kiptum A man died after his car collided with a tree in Kenya.
The women's team included Jepchirchir and Olympic silver medalist Brigitte Kosgei.
Others include Boston and Chicago marathon champions Helen Obiri, Rosemary Wanjiru and Sharon Rokedi, and 2019 world champion Ruth Chepgetich.
“The journey begins by defending the crown,” Kenya's National Olympic Committee told X.
Kenya Olympic Marathon provisional representative:
male
Eliud Kipchoge, Vincent Kipkemoi Getich, Timothy Kiplagat, Benson Kipruto, Alexander Mutiso
woman
Ruth Chepungettich, Brigid Kosgei, Helen Obiri, Rosemary Wanjiru, Sharon Rokedi, Perez Jepchirchir
Written by Garyn Lambly ©Agence France-Presse