Legendary marathoner Eliud Kipchoge meets Barack Obama with eye to collaborating on youth projects

Kenya's legendary long-distance runner Eliud Kipchoge has met former US President Barack Obama, with an eye to their respective foundations collaborating in the future. 

The double Olympic champion was in Washington after completing his first New York City Marathon, where he finished 17th, a remarkable performance for an athlete who has since turned 41 years old.

This gave him entry to the Seven Star Hall of Fame.

Kipchoge recently dismissed talk of retirement, announcing a new project that will see him run seven marathons across all continents over the next two years, in part to raise funds for the Eliud Kipchoge Foundation. 

In a social media post, the celebrated athlete shared that Obama - who has Kenyan ancestry, is the figure who has inspired him the most.

Kipchoge reported that they explored ways that his Foundation and the Obama Foundation can work together on causes close to their hearts - youth leadership, education, and the power of sport to transform lives.

'Together, we hope to help young people believe that no dream is too distant and no beginning too small', Kipchoge said.

This meeting would surely have counted as his big post-race highlight, comments Hwindingwi.

"He gifted Obama with his signed Nike Alphafly 3 shoes. These are the same pair he wore during his historic 2023 Berlin Marathon victory... And although he ended 17th in the New York Marathon, this has ultimately been the climax of his career."

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to Africa Business Focus (Kipchoge discussion at 5:28)