Sisay Lemma sends a message to Eliud Kipchoge ahead of the 2024 Olympics

Eliud Kipchoge is no longer so alone at the top. Last April, Kenya's Evans Chebet had already hinted as much by winning the Boston marathon ahead of his legendary compatriot, the king of the 42 km. But there were mitigating circumstances for the two-time Olympic marathon champion. It was his comeback race and he had only finished sixth. Chebet's time (2:05:54) was not quite quick enough to pose a major threat either. Quite the opposite of the huge performance from another Kenyan, 23-year-old Kelvin Kiptum. On 8 October, he comprehensively broke the record of Kipchoge at the Chicago marathon. He crossed the line in 2:00:35, erasing the previous mark of 2:01:09. Just when it looked as if, in eight months' time, three Kenyans would be fighting it out for the Olympic title, an Ethiopian sent a message this Sunday, 3 December. His name is Sisay Lemma.

At 32, having been on the marathon circuit for a decade, he won the celebrated Valencia race in a superb time. Sisay Lemma clocked 2:01:48. That makes him the fourth-fastest performer in the event, behind Kiptum and running greats Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele. He won ahead of Alexander Mutiso (Kenya, in 2:03:11), Dawit Wolde (Ethiopia, in 2:03:48) and Kenenisa Bekele (2:04:19). "It's incredible to win here with such a fast time, I'm over the moon," says the winner of the marathon in