Joshua Cheptegei, the Ugandan distance icon who’s conquered nearly everything there is to win on the track, is doubling down on his marathon ambitions.
Fresh off his 10,000m gold medal at the Paris Olympics, Cheptegei has announced he’ll race the TCS Amsterdam Marathon on Oct. 19. The event marks the 50th edition of the marathon and comes in the same year that the city celebrates its 750th birthday, a fittingly historic moment for an athlete trying to redefine himself.
“I’m looking forward to racing in Amsterdam and writing the next chapter of my career,” Cheptegei said. “It’s a city and a race rich in history, and I can’t wait to create a memorable moment during the 50th edition of the TCS Amsterdam Marathon!”
After dominating the track for nearly a decade, he holds the world records in both the 5,000m (12:35.36) and 10,000m (26:11.00), along with two Olympic and three world titles, Cheptegei now finds himself at the beginning of a new journey on the roads.
His marathon debut came in Valencia in 2023, where he ran a solid but unspectacular 2:08:59. This past spring in Tokyo, he lowered that to 2:05:59 and believes there’s much more in the tank.
“In Tokyo, I could have run around 2:04,” he said. “My goal in Amsterdam is to run a personal best, and I hope for a podium finish. Amsterdam should be a new benchmark from which I can build after my track career. It’s a special moment for me to reinvent myself in the marathon world.”
Cheptegei will use the Antrim Coast Half Marathon on Aug. 24 as a final tune-up before Amsterdam. With its fast course and growing international profile, the Northern Ireland race has become a popular stop for athletes looking to sharpen up ahead of major fall marathons.
The Amsterdam start list is already stacked with firepower.
Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola, the reigning Olympic marathon champion and 2022 world champion, is also confirmed to race, setting up a heavyweight clash.
Their presence is expected to help fill the star-power gap left by Dutch favorites Sifan Hassan and Abdi Nageeye, who are focusing on Sydney and New York, respectively.
Cheptegei has long been coached by Dutchman Addy Ruiter, making his appearance in Amsterdam feel like something of a homecoming. It’s also the perfect stage for him to make a statement. The race is known for its flat, fast course, with a reputation for breakthrough performances.
Cheptegei’s shift to the marathon mirrors the paths of many great track athletes before him, but few bring a résumé as decorated, or expectations as high. At 28, he’s still entering his prime marathon years. Amsterdam could offer him the chance to do what he’s done so often on the track, rewrite the script.
