体坛英语新闻：History beckons for Kipchoge on Tokyo Olympic marathon mission

NAIROBI, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Eliud Kipchoge has written history before, but his next challenge to become only the third man in history to successfully defend the Olympic marathon title is aspiring.

For a man, who only jumped to marathon after missing out to make Kenya team to London Olympics back in 2012, to revolutionize the sport and leave fans dreaming of how fast the human species can run, Tokyo Olympics will certainly be of importance to him.

The men's marathon will be held on the final day of competition on Aug. 9. Moreover, marathon races on the July 24 to Aug. 9 Olympic Games have been shifted from Tokyo to Sapporo city.

This is to protect the athletes against sweltering heat and high levels of humidity expected in the Olympics' host city.

But even that does not worry Kipchoge, who says if it will be hard for him, so will it be to other athletes.

"It is down to working hard. To ensure that the team achieve what is required in Sapporo. We shall come with medals," Kipchoge said on Wednesday.

"For now the Olympics looks like a long shot far away and in sports anything can happen. But the focus is there and spirit is willing. Keep us in your prayers."

For now, Kipchoge will be happy to focus on his immediate task, retaining his London marathon title, which is just two months away on April 26.

"It's one race at a time. London marathon is my next stop and am happy to be going there to defend my title," he said.

While focus will be on Kipchoge's imminent clash with Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele in London and possible in Tokyo, the silk of World Championships bronze medalist Amos Kipruto and Boston and Chicago Marathon champion Lawrence Cherono may help shield the legendary athlete from direct coalition as they too stand a huge chance to run away with the title.

Kenyan's world half-marathon record-holder Geoffrey Kamworor, a former world 10,000m silver medalist, will however not run the marathon despite winning in New York last November.

Instead, Kamworor has opted to try one more time to win gold at the Olympics in the 25-lap race.

He however, has the small matter of securing the ticket through the explosive Kenyan trials in June.