Marathon: the fastest athletes in history set for London showdown
London Marathon: four of the five fastest men in history will be on the start line on 23 April.
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London will host the third leg of the World Marathon Majors on 23 April, and the big event will feature four of the five fastest athletes in history. Kenenisa Bekele, the second-fastest man of all time with a personal best of 2:01:41, will be on the start line. The Ethiopian's last appearance was in April 2022, and it came at the London Marathon. The 2017 London runner-up had to settle for fifth place in the English capital last year.
The third-fastest man in history will also be there. Kelvin Kiptum, winner of the 2022 Valencia Marathon, has a PB of 2:01:53. Ethiopians Birhanu Legese (2:02:48) and Mosinet Geremew (2:02:55) will also be in the field.
In addition, defending champion Amos Kipruto of Kenya is ready to defend his title. "I'm training hard now for this year's race and I can't wait to come back to London as champion. London always has a very strong field and this year is no different, so I know I'll have to fight to defend my title, but I'm confident and I'm looking forward to it", said the 30-year-old. World champion Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia will also return to the London Marathon, along with multiple world and Olympic champion Mo Farah and two-time New York Marathon winner Geoffrey Kamworor.
World record holder Eliud Kipchoge, a four-time London winner, is missing from the list. The two-time Olympic champion will begin his season at the Boston Marathon.
𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 ⚡️
Four of the top five fastest men in history go head-to-head in London! #LondonMarathon | #EliteWeek
— TCS London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) February 1, 2023