Martin Lel, born in Kapsabet, Kenya, stands out as one of the most successful marathon runners of his generation. He started running in high school, competing in track and cross country. After graduation, he joined an elite training camp, which helped him develop into a world-class athlete.
Lel began his marathon journey in 2002. However, he did not finish his first marathon in Prague, but he quickly bounced back by finishing second in the Venice Marathon later that year.
In 2003, he made his mark by winning the Lisbon Half Marathon and then capturing a gold medal at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Portugal. That same year, Martin Lel won his first New York City Marathon title, proving he could compete with the best in the world.
Over the next few years, Martin Lel dominated the marathon scene. He won the London Marathon three times—in 2005, 2007, and 2008. In 2008, he set a course record in London with a personal best time of 2:05:15.
Martin Lel also won the New York City Marathon again in 2007 and took first place at the Great North Run in 2007 and 2009. He consistently performed well in half marathons, winning the Lisbon Half Marathon three times. That is in 2003, 2006, 2009, and the Portugal Half Marathon in 2005.
Lel also represented Kenya at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, finishing fifth in the marathon.
However, injuries kept him from competing in some races, but he returned strong, finishing second in the London Marathon in both 2011 and 2012. He also won the inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Mardi Gras Marathon in 2010 and continued to compete in top races around the world.
Martin Lel`s Influence to His Brother, Cybrian Kotut
Beyond his achievements, Lel inspired his younger brother, Cybrian Kotut, who also became a marathon champion. In 2011, the Shoe4Africa organisation honoured Lel by opening a school named after him in his home village.
Martin Lel’s career shows how hard work, resilience, and determination can lead to greatness in the world of long-distance running.
