The African athlete proved again in Germany why he is the best long-distance runner in history, becoming again a marathon legend for his effort, sacrifice… and a secret.
Eliud Kipchoge made history this Sunday. The Kenyan athlete continues to smash records year after year and in the Berlin Marathon he was able to set a new world record in the specialty, managing to finish the 42,195 meters of the race with an incredible time of 2 hours, 1 minute and 9 seconds. In fact, the African managed to beat his own record, also achieved in the German city, although four years earlier. And, in both cases, he had a secret weapon.
Let’s start from the premise that Kipchoge’s success lies exclusively in his effort, training and capacity for sacrifice. His obsession to try to go under two hours -in 2019 he achieved it, but in special conditions and, therefore, the mark was not homologated- leads him to keep demanding himself and to train very hard, which was enough to lower his world record by thirty seconds. But all elements count and the Kenyan had the best water carrier off the track.
En las últimas horas, se ha hecho viral la imagen del encargado de repartirle el agua a Kipchoge durante la prueba. No solo por su inteligencia para colocarse en el asfalto de manera estratégica sino, sobre todo, por sus celebraciones ‘felices’ cada vez que conseguía una entrega correcta. Su dedicación, sus ganas y su desempeño confirman que los mejores atletas también tienen que contar con los mejores ayudantes… y, de hecho, sus últimos dos récords del mundo llegaron de su mano.
Claus-Henning Schulke rose to fame after Kipchoge’s record in Berlin. Throughout the race, the 56-year-old German man strategically positioned himself at each of the points that the organization set up for the refreshment of the athletes to try to help the African not to lose time in the delivery of water. Once the goal was achieved, he rode his bike with devotion in search of the next cooling zone for the athletes.
But who is Schulke? Well, he is one of the 20 volunteers chosen by the marathon organizers to deliver the supplies to the best runners, and he is also considered to be one of the best at what he does. Not in vain, he was in charge of taking care of the best marathon runner in history, with a double prize: both times he has done it in Berlin, Kipchoge has broken the world record. Coincidence? Hard to believe.
