Chasing third Olympic gold: For Kipchoge, the road starts in Kenya’s Rift Valley

Chasing third Olympic gold: For Kipchoge, the road starts in Kenya’s Rift Valley
Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge (C) runs among his pacers during a fartlek (speed work) session in Kaptagat on May 4, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 07 May 2024
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Chasing third Olympic gold: For Kipchoge, the road starts in Kenya’s Rift Valley

Chasing third Olympic gold: For Kipchoge, the road starts in Kenya’s Rift Valley
  • Currently Kipchoge is one of only three marathon runners to have two Olympic titles (2016, 2021), alongside Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikila (1960, 1964) and Waldemar Cierpinski of Germany (1976, 1980)
  • Kipchoge has already checked out the hilly route in Paris, a course said to be unfavorable for him

KAPTAGAT, Kenya: Dawn has not yet broken over the highlands of Kenya’s Rift Valley when marathon great Eliud Kipchoge crosses through the gate of his training camp.

It’s barely 6:00 am.

Three months before the Olympic marathon on Aug. 10 in Paris — where he hopes to make history with a third gold medal — he is preparing to start the weekly “long run.”

Wearing a cap and gloves to protect himself from the drizzle and the cool morning air, the 39-year-old sets off at the front of the pack.

Joining him are other residents of the renowned Kaptagat training camp including Kenyan middle-distance star Faith Kipyegon but also local runners who come in the hope of being talent-spotted.

On the program that day: 30 kilometers (18 miles) pounding the local roads.

The athletes have abandoned the red dirt tracks that crisscross the surrounding forest, made muddy by the torrential rains which have been pelting Kenya for more than a month.

“Nature says no. And now it’s speaking very loud,” smiles Kipchoge’s longtime coach Patrick Sang.

Over the kilometers, the pack stretches out and splits apart.

Only the car carrying their coaches, Sang and 2008 Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Brimin Kipruto, protects the runners from the trucks and matatus (minibus taxis) which zoom past on the hilly course.

In the lead group, Kipchoge eats up kilometers at a steady pace. He will go on to complete the distance, with six other runners, in one hour 40 minutes.

“Everything is going well. I’m feeling good. But I think the next months will be more interesting,” Kipchoge tells AFP in an interview after the road session.

The former double world record holder is in the last stages of preparation which will lead him toward the goal of a lifetime — becoming the first person to win Olympic marathon gold three times in a row.

Currently he is one of only three marathon runners to have two Olympic titles (2016, 2021), alongside Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikila (1960, 1964) and Waldemar Cierpinski of Germany (1976, 1980).

“The Olympic Games is crucial for me,” Kipchoge says.

For him, Olympic titles are “bigger than the major marathons,” the six races on the circuit where he has won 11 times since 2014 (five in Berlin, four in London, one each in Tokyo and Chicago).

His ambition remains intact despite two recent poor performances, in Boston in 2023 when he came in sixth and in Tokyo in March where he only finished 10th — arousing criticism and doubt about his future.

“I’m old enough to handle any setback. I know sport is not about performing every day,” he counters, saying he believed his low place in Tokyo was down to “fatigue.”

Kipchoge has already checked out the hilly route in Paris, a course said to be unfavorable for him.

“I prepare specifically on the hills and downhills but generally, I want to be fit enough.”

To reach his peak performance, Kipchoge sticks to an abstemious life and trains hard.

“Eliud is very consistent... but the way he is really focusing on Paris, it’s something else,” says Victor Chumo, a member of the team that helped him beat the mythical two-hour barrier in 2019, running 1:59:40 during an unsanctioned race in Vienna.

“He is more aggressive than in previous years. The way he trains, the way he rests, he is reporting to the camp earlier than before... That shows he is going for something special.”

“His mind is already in Paris,” adds Daniel Mateiko, a young Kenyan hopeful in long-distance running who trains alongside him in Kaptagat.

Kipchoge’s preparation is also punctuated by anti-doping controls, which the Kenyan athletics federation has reinforced under pressure from international authorities.

“This year, it has been more frequent,” he says, with a test for performance-enhancing drugs now every week compared to once or twice a month previously.

“There’s a lot of improvement, they have been doing a great job,” he says of the drug testing. “But consistency should be there.”

The countdown is on toward what could well be his last Olympics, but Kipchoge doesn’t want to talk about it: “I’m taking one step at a time.”

But his return to the French capital is rich with symbolism. It was there that in 2003, at the age of 18, he won his first international crown: becoming 5,000m world champion ahead of two legends, Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj and Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia.

“Paris is where my life started in athletics 20 years ago.”


Benzema shines as leaders Al-Ittihad thrash Al-Ettifaq

Benzema shines as leaders Al-Ittihad thrash Al-Ettifaq
Updated 7 sec ago
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Benzema shines as leaders Al-Ittihad thrash Al-Ettifaq

Benzema shines as leaders Al-Ittihad thrash Al-Ettifaq
  • In his first league appearance after missing the last four games through injury, the French forward had the ball in the net after 27 minutes

JEDDAH: Karim Benzema returned to action in style Saturday as Al-Ittihad won 4-0 at Ettifaq, scoring one and recording two assists to help the leaders stay on top of the Saudi Pro League.

In his first league appearance after missing the last four games through injury, the French forward had the ball in the net after 27 minutes. A beautiful short pass inside the area from N’Golo Kante took out three defenders to leave Benzema to sweep home from close range but VAR ruled that he had been just offside.

The roles were reversed eight minutes later and this time the goal stood. Benzema picked up possession in a crowded situation just outside the area, slipped a little pass to his right for Kante to burst into the box in a central occasion to fire home a low shot.

Eight minutes after the restart, Benzema got his goal. Marek Rodak got down well to save a fierce shot from Steven Bergwijn and there was the French striker to show his goal scoring instinct to pounce upon the rebound to put the ball into an empty net. It was a ninth goal of the season that puts him level with Cristiano Ronaldo in the standings, three behind Al-Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Two more goals came in quick succession midway through the second half. After 66 minutes Houssem Aouar made it three and then Bergwijn added to Ettifaq’s pain four minutes later, running clear of the defence to score after a fine pass from Benzema.

It was harsh on the home team who have now gone nine league games without a win. The pressure was already on head coach Steven Gerrard but the Liverpool legend and his team are now just three points clear of the relegation zone. Next comes a tricky away trip to Al-Khaleej.

Al-Ittihad meanwhile are riding high.


Barcelona lose at home for 1st time this season, falling 2-1 to Las Palmas

Barcelona lose at home for 1st time this season, falling 2-1 to Las Palmas
Updated 30 November 2024
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Barcelona lose at home for 1st time this season, falling 2-1 to Las Palmas

Barcelona lose at home for 1st time this season, falling 2-1 to Las Palmas
  • Barcelona had played superbly in the first three months under new coach Hansi Flick
  • They have now gone three rounds of La Liga without a win

BARCELONA: Barcelona lost at home for the first time this season when the Spanish league leader were stunned 2-1 by Las Palmas on Saturday.
Barcelona had played superbly in the first three months under new coach Hansi Flick and were flying high after convincing victories over Real Madrid in the domestic competition and Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
They had won all eight home games overall.
But they have now gone three rounds of La Liga without a win. Prior to the loss to Las Palmas, they fell 1-0 at Real Sociedad and drew 2-2 at Celta Vigo.
Madrid, despite their own troubles especially in the Champions League, can now move ahead of Barcelona in the Spanish league. They trail Barcelona by four points with two games more to play.
Sandro Ramirez and Fábio Silva scored for the Canary Islands club on either side of Raphina’s equalizer.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal returned from a right ankle injury that had sidelined with for three weeks as a halftime substitute, but Jasper Cillessen saved his best shot. The Las Palmas goalkeeper also did well to palm a Raphinha free kick over his bar in the final minutes.


Norris hands Piastri the win in Qatar sprint as McLaren closes in on the F1 constructors’ title

Norris hands Piastri the win in Qatar sprint as McLaren closes in on the F1 constructors’ title
Updated 30 November 2024
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Norris hands Piastri the win in Qatar sprint as McLaren closes in on the F1 constructors’ title

Norris hands Piastri the win in Qatar sprint as McLaren closes in on the F1 constructors’ title
  • Norris started on pole position and kept the lead at the start as Piastri squeezed past the Mercedes of George Russell for second

LUSAIL, Qatar: McLaren neared its first Formula 1 constructors’ title in 26 years as Lando Norris handed Oscar Piastri victory in a one-two finish for the team in the sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix on Saturday.
Norris started on pole position and kept the lead at the start as Piastri squeezed past the Mercedes of George Russell for second.
Norris gave the lead to Piastri with the finish line in sight, paying his teammate back for gifting him a win in the sprint race in Brazil when Norris was still fighting Max Verstappen for the drivers’ title. Russell finished third.
Verstappen — crowned the drivers’ champion last week in Las Vegas — finished eighth and his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez was last after a pit stop to change his car’s nose.
Qualifying takes place later Saturday for Sunday’s Grand Prix race.


Mbappe’s problem is Real Madrid’s problem, says Ancelotti

Mbappe’s problem is Real Madrid’s problem, says Ancelotti
Updated 30 November 2024
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Mbappe’s problem is Real Madrid’s problem, says Ancelotti

Mbappe’s problem is Real Madrid’s problem, says Ancelotti
  • “Mbappe’s problem is the problem that we all have. The idea is to try to give our best version, not just of him but myself, other players,” Ancelotti told a news conference
  • “It’s not a problem about one player”

MADRID: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Saturday superstar striker Kylian Mbappe’s struggles this season are due to his team’s overall lack of consistency.
The French forward missed a penalty as Spanish and European champions Real Madrid lost on Wednesday in the Champions League against Liverpool, their third defeat in five matches in the competition.
Mbappe, who joined in the summer at the end of his Paris Saint-Germain contract, was criticized for his performance and has netted just two goals in his last nine games for Madrid.
“Mbappe’s problem is the problem that we all have. The idea is to try to give our best version, not just of him but myself, other players,” Ancelotti told a news conference ahead of Sunday’s La Liga clash against Getafe.
“It’s not a problem about one player, the problem that we have is one of a team that has not been capable of being consistent. It’s not a problem about one player.
“We have to try and improve that, do everything we can... among other things (Mbappe) is new here and adapting, among other things he’s scored eight goals and has participated in attack, giving assists.
“Yes he can play better, but we can all do better and we will try to.”
Mbappe was not included in the last two France squad lists and has also had off-field issues to deal with during his first months at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“He is absolutely not sunken, he knows he has to improve like we all do... he’s being scrutinized after the Liverpool game because he missed a penalty, like many of my players have,” continued Ancelotti.
The coach said the Liverpool defeat was partly due to losing players through injury, including Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao among others, but that Brazilian winger Rodrygo was fit to face Getafe.
Madrid, second, trail La Liga leaders Barcelona by four points, albeit having played one fewer match.
“I am like Mbappe, I am trying to give my best version,” said Ancelotti.
“Results say that I have not been capable of doing that. I’m not happy... but I’m convinced we will fix it, like we always fix it.”


Aspiring GCC drivers make the most of GT World Challenge

Aspiring GCC drivers make the most of GT World Challenge
Updated 30 November 2024
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Aspiring GCC drivers make the most of GT World Challenge

Aspiring GCC drivers make the most of GT World Challenge
  • The so-called SAL GT Jeddah 2024 marks a crucial juncture for many of the GCC young drivers as they look to step up from regional to global competition

Jeddah: The Fanatec GT World Europe Challenge has always been a highlight of the racing calendar as a chance for drivers to demonstrate their skills around the world’s most challenging circuits, and this year’s final round in Jeddah featured a diverse grid of international drivers.

The so-called SAL GT Jeddah 2024 marks a crucial juncture for many of the GCC young drivers as they look to step up from regional to global competition.

Six of the contenders vying to leave an impact this weekend are already a part of this year’s challenge and looking forward to achieving positive results. They are: Reema Al-Juffali, Bandar Alesayi, Fahad Al-Gosaibi, Ahmed bin Khanen, from Saudi Arabia; and Ahmad Alharthy and Al-Faisal Al-Zubair, from Oman.

On Friday, the six drivers met the press and expressed their happiness at being part of this international challenge — to enjoy the experience behind the wheel on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the world’s fastest circuit.

Bandar Alesayi explained that the championship and the cars were new to the drivers, but they knew a lot about the circuit. “It is a very strong championship and a tough competition but I will enjoy it,” he said.

Ahmed bin Khanen said: “We will strive to provide our best to achieve distinguished results. It is so great to compete against the best in the world.”

Fahad Al-Gosaibi, who proved his skills in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, said that his 20 years in Porsche racing in the Gulf region would be an incentive to achieve his ambition of first place as he chases the best performance during the Fanatec GT competition being held in his homeland.

“We really appreciate the great support we all receive as Saudi drivers from the Ministry of Sports and the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation,” he said.

Reema Al-Juffali said that the generous support of the Ministry of Sports and the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation provided the drivers with a great incentive in all motor sports championships. Al-Juffali said that she would seek to achieve a distinguished place in the competition, noting that GT events were the first step toward reaching her dream of representing the Kingdom in this race.

Omani driver Ahmed Al-Harthy said: “The GT race is the most difficult championship in the world because there are 49 cars on the track at the same time.” Al-Harthy said that the Kingdom’s hosting of major motorsports championships such as Formula 1, Formula E, and now GT, was a source of pride and gave hope to Gulf youth who aspired to participate in these races.

His countryman, Al-Faisal Al-Zubair, said that his team was ranked second in the chance to win the challenge on Saturday. “It will be a great joy if we win the championship from the land of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is like our country,” he said.

He praised the Kingdom’s ability to host many of the most important international competitions such as the Dakar Rally, Formula 1, and others.