(Boston) The usual bright-eyed man looked sad Tuesday morning in Boston.
Eliud Kipchoge is not used to defeat and defeat is not used to Kipchoge. The two are a mismatched couple, uncomfortable when they meet. A kind of emotional disorder therefore reigned in this morning after the marathon.
I kept the moving image of this proud athlete walking away down the hall after the press conference. He hid his lameness badly. Simple injury or swan song? Was he unlucky or overwhelmed by this dreadful journey?
It’s the first time his body has faltered so clearly in 18 marathons – he’s won 15 out of 17 so far. He even apologized!
To journalists who we felt were just a little less disappointed than him, he explained that his left thigh had let go after the 30e kilometer. He gritted his teeth for a while… But couldn’t keep up.
Kipchoge had promised a course record, which does not lack audacity in Boston. It was run in 2011 in 2:03:02, but on a day with a strong tailwind.
At the 5 km mark, the peloton led by Kipchoge recorded 14 min 17 s. A pace of 2 h 33 s, that is to say not only a course record, but a world record.
“Did you leave too soon?” Was it a mistake to put you forward?
He didn’t like the question.
“What do you think it means when I’m in front and everyone else is behind?” It’s obvious. And you [les journalistes], think a little. It’s sport and you have to push yourself. Go beyond. And love it. You know, there was no second best. I believe I opened a topic for you that you can discuss…”
It must be said that he always goes forward. Hey ! He is the king.
In Berlin in September, he also “left too quickly”, analysts said. He was going at a crazy pace taking him under 2 hours. He slowed down a bit on the second half, but outpaced everyone and set a new world record.
So running forward, breaking competitors, it’s nothing new or weird for him.
— Did this hilly course make your life difficult?
– No way. It’s not a challenge. My training takes into account flat terrain or hills. I’ve been training specifically for this event for five months. It’s not the ribs, it’s my leg. That’s sports.
Did he think about giving up? “A lot of things were going through my head, but hey! I can’t give up. I’ve been in this sport for so long. They say it’s important to win, but to finish is good too. If you’re not resilient, you’re not going anywhere. So if something happens and knocks you down, get up and move on again. That’s what you should do. »
After a few minutes of being criticized for his game plan, the disappointed champion brought out another fortune cookie: “There are three things. Yesterday is a bad check. Today it is cash. Tomorrow is an IOU. Let’s forget yesterday, and talk about cash or IOU. »
Press reports pointed out that he did not speak to reporters after Monday’s race, or at least was not made available, despite attempts by organizers. I asked him why.
“That’s not a good question. It’s a lie. Did you ask me a question? »
I wanted to tell him that I was running very far behind him and asking the people on the course who had won, but I exercised my right to silence.
He then took control of the press conference, just as the attaché had announced the last question.
“I can answer ten questions, as many as you want. You, do you have a question? YOU ? »
“Humanly, I was disappointed. »
What was touching was precisely this weakness so rarely exposed, in one who is generally surrounded by media reverence. He whose motto says “no one is limited”…
The following ? The Paris Games? New York ? For the time being, he must “recover physically and morally,” he said, as if he had just swallowed another sip of this bitter potion which is inflicted on him so rarely: defeat.
His compatriot Evans Chebet, 34, was enjoying his second straight victory in Boston, but even more his conquest of the greatest of all.
“People in Kenya are very happy because they know that if Eliud retires another Kenyan will take over,” he told me proudly.
PHOTO BRIAN SNYDER, REUTERS
Evans Chebet
He and his unwavering training mate Benson Kipruto (third) quickly realized that Kipchoge was trying to break them with that insane speed start. But they followed. And it was the course that defeated Eliud.
“Is this the beginning of the end for Kipchoge?”
“No, he can still do very well!” »
All right, sure. But so much better than the others? Again ?
In this sport where athletes only compete twice a year, the question will remain unanswered for months to come.