KENENISA BEKELE VS. ELIUD KIPCHOGE || MARATHON GREATNESS COMPARISON

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In the battle for greatest marathoner ever, most agree that Eliud Kipchoge takes the crown. However, just recently distance running legend Kenenisa Bekele ran a 2:01:41 marathon which is only 2 seconds behind Kipchoge's world record! This epic performance puts Bekele right back in the marathon conversation, and the world is waiting to see what will happen next!

Who do you think has the advantage?

[finlayhutchinson]

WHAT bekele is like 40 and I thought he was retired and now he rocks up and gets 2s slower than the world record? I know kipchoge is better but bekele is amazing wth.

[freshappleseed]

Honestly I think Bekele's performance is still kind of underrated. People literally thought that nobody would even be able to get close to Kipchoge's record for a few more years/decades. Then Keninisa prs by 2 minutes to get only about 2 seconds behind it, even after having a constantly faltering marathon career. Props

[RyanWalshGuitar]

Can you imagine these two battling it out in the next Olympics? I really hope Bekele manages to stay healthy so we witness that. In my opinion, the two greatest to ever do it!

[Jazzper]

Great video. Your point in that Kipchoge was running alone and Bekele had a lot of competition is spot on. Bekele had a target - Eliud did not know what to hit - and still Eliud runs faster than Bekele could accomplish. Eliud Kipchoge is the GOAT in marathon running. Bekele is fast, but his lack of winning races, makes it very easy to say who has the edge. Kipchoge trains smart.

[blacksky]

Who else feels like running after watching this?

[JonasFilberg]

If purely judge on marathon then obviously kipchoge. But as the better runner overall From track to marathon, then bekele all day.

[jameshaney]

But why compare the two? It is like comparing 2 rare pieces of Gold. Their legacies will live on for centuries.

[RandomGuy-dwhf]

For me, Kipchoge is still the goat over the marathon, and that wouldn’t have changed even if Bekele had beaten his time. The sheer erratic nature and lack of consistency of Bekele’s career, especially in comparison with Eliud who has been flawless, with multiple DNFs and poor performances really causes him to lose out. If Kenenisa manages to string a few more good performances together and stay injury free with more consistency then I think it becomes a bit tougher to call, but the consistency Kipchoge has had in the marathon for years now gives him a huge edge in my eyes. Although Bekele is, in my opinion, overall the greatest distance runner and, perhaps, athlete of all time, Kipchoge is the greatest marathoner ever

[libradragon]

THIS singular post reveals the incredible skill you have, and bring to us here on YouTube, in your amazing videos. TRP!! Keep up your great work here; you bring the world into sharp relief, and we are all better for this effort which you seamlessly provide for fans of Athletics, specifically, The Marathon. Thank you! (I have competed in 28 Marathons in my career. I know these miles well enough, but my 2:18 best (running, 1972) and 3:34 best (racewalking, 1989) are ghosts in the modern era, with these great times over the past 11 years.) Well Done, keep up this great attention you provide for us.

[SuperBigBallzzz]

The chance of breaking 2 got even higher. Congrats to them both phenomenal athletes

[fahim]

Heart says Bekele, head says Kipchoge. Either way, can't wait to see them race each other.

[kimnorberg]

Bekele is AMAZING with three gold Olympic medals and 5000m, 10000m world records back in 2004-2008!!

[harrisonsimmons]

Would love to see these two go head to head at Berlin!! Would be the greatest Marathon ever run with a world record resulting from the victor

[Kmunz]

Bekele ran his time with only 2.5 months of proper preparation after rehabbing. On top of that the roads looked a bit damp and Bekele fell off the pace for several kilometers from his hamstring tightening up. For me this shows again that Bekele is the superior runner. He is the GOAT.
That said, I'm really optimistic that Kipchoge with break the 2 hour barrier in Vienna. His consistency and ability to stay free from injury certainly closes the gap between them from their track days. Will be interesting when they finally go head to head when they're both 100%.

[stevestarr]

Bekele is the greatest distance runner of all time, whereas Kipchoge is the Greatest Marathoner of All Time. I'd never bet on Kipchoge beating Bekele in a 5K or 10K, and I'd never bet on Bekele beating Kipchoge in a marathon.

[emanuelfpmanjos]

Age grading, Bekele's time is superior. On the other hand, running almost against the clock, as Kipchoge did, is a different prospect altogether. At the end of the day, if pitted head to head in a marathon, my money is on Kipchoge all day - he is like clockwork, he would pace the race till Bekele's limit and then win it. As I see it, Kipchoge looks unbeatable in the marathon.

[cobwebtheorem]

Great video. Eliud is the GOAT. As you stated, he ran I totally uncharted territory, while Kenenisa was chasing the standard set by Eliud.
Stunning similarities to the then World Marathon record by Paul Tergat, very much on his own, and Haile Gebreselassie's, who was shadowed by his coach in a car for much of the race.

[SpencerMahon]

I have a weird feeling that if these two race a record legal marathon (i.e London) that Sub 2 hours could go down for real

[garygwin]

Both of these guys are amazing. We should all be inspired by their lifelong devotion and work ethic.

[yoshimuroi]

No one seems to be talking about the amazing final 400m Beleke put on in this marathon, He ran something like 54~ seconds for the last 400m after 41.8km that's some insane times to run for a 400m let alone the last 400m of a marathon. I don't know if even Kipchoge can match such an insane kick! Also not to mention Bekele wasn't happy with his preparations, he stated that he only had about 2 months of solid training, and wasn't expecting to run below 2:02!