Kipchoge aiming high

CHALLENGE: CHASING THIRD CONSECUTIVE OLYMPIC MARATHON VICTORY

When he started out running in the early 2000s, a young Eliud Kipchoge simply wanted to get on a plane and go to Europe.

Two decades later, the Kenyan marathon legend is heading to Paris for what could be his final challenge at the 2024 Olympics.

At 39, he says he is hoping to make history on 11 August by becoming the "first human being" to win the Olympic marathon three times in succession, overtaking Ethiopia's Abebe Bikila (1960, 1964) and Waldemar Cierpinski of Germany (1976, 1980).

It was in Paris in 2003 that the then 18-year-old made a thunderous international debut, snatching the 5 000 metres world championship gold ahead of favourites Hicham El Gerrouj and Kenenisa Bekele.

But Kipchoge's first major prize ended up being his only one on the track.