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Kenenisa Bekele Withdraws from London Marathon with Calf Injury

2026-06-23 · Kenenisa Bekele · Player Focus

Kenenisa Bekele Withdraws from London Marathon with Calf Injury

Kenenisa Bekele will not compete in the London Marathon due to a calf injury, he announced on Friday.

What happened?

Bekele suffered the injury after two intense training sessions, leaving him unable to race on Sunday. He had been training well, but the injury proved difficult to overcome.

Why it matters for Kenenisa Bekele

The withdrawal is a huge blow to Bekele, who had been looking forward to competing against Eliud Kipchoge. Bekele's time of 2:01:41 in Berlin was just two seconds shy of Kipchoge's world record.

What comes next?

Bekele plans to return to competition next year, but for now, he is focusing on recovery. The London Marathon will still take place on Sunday, with Kipchoge as the favorite to win. Bekele's fans are disappointed, but he thanked them for their support. The race will be held on a new, multi-lap course at St James's Park, with a fenced-off route and finish line on The Mall. Wet and windy weather is expected, making a world record attempt unlikely. Bekele had been looking forward to competing in his first race in a year, but the injury has put those plans on hold. He will have to wait until next year to try and beat Kipchoge's record. The London Marathon is one of the most prestigious races in the world, and Bekele's withdrawal is a significant loss. But he is already planning his return, and his fans are eagerly awaiting his next competition. Bekele's physio had been working to solve the issue, but it was impossible to recover in time for the race. The injury occurred two weeks ago, and despite good training, Bekele was unable to overcome it. He is disappointed, but he is already looking forward to next year's competition. The London Marathon will be screened live on the BBC, with the men's, women's, and wheelchair races all being broadcast. Bekele's withdrawal has changed the dynamics of the race, with Kipchoge now the clear favorite to win. But Bekele is still one of the fastest marathon runners in the world, and his return will be highly anticipated.

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