Kenyan long-distance legend Vivian Cheruiyot will compete at the 2025 London Marathon on April 27, marking her return to the event where she triumphed in 2018. The 41-year-old, a four-time Olympic medalist and six-time world champion, joins Kenya’s women’s team after withdrawals by Ruth Chepngetich and Peres Jepchirchir.
The revised lineup features Vivian Cheruiyot alongside world-record holder Joyciline Jepkosgei, narrowing Kenya’s elite women’s representatives to two. Organisers confirmed Cheruiyot’s inclusion following the late exits of Chepngetich and Jepchirchir, due to various reasons.
Vivian Cheruiyot, nicknamed “Pocket Rocket,” brings unparalleled experience, having dominated track and road events for over two decades. Her 2018 London victory in 2:18:31 remains a personal best, and she recently placed third in a 2024 marathon tune-up. Jepkosgei, the 2021 New York Marathon winner, adds speed with her 2:17:43 personal best.
The race will test Vivian Cheruiyot’s endurance against younger rivals, including Ethiopian and Dutch contenders. Her strategic pacing and late-race surges could prove decisive. Kenya aims to reclaim dominance after recent wins by foreign athletes in major marathons.
Earlier, Chepngetich and Jepchirchir withdrew from the race for various reasons. Peres Jepchirchir claimed that,
“Unfortunately, my injury has made this impossible but I am focused on getting healthy again and hope to return to London again in the future when I’m fully fit,”
On the other hand, her counterpart Chepngetich said,
“I’m not in the right place mentally or physically to race my best in London and I am therefore withdrawing. I am very sad to miss the race and I hope to be back next year,”
With the two athletes out of the event, Vibian Cheruiyot will square it out with Kenya`s Joyciline Jepkosgei and reigning Olympic champion Sifan Hassan from the Netherlands. Other outstanding competitors include former world record holder Ethiopia`s Tigst Assefa and Valencia Marathon Champion, Ethiopia`s Alemu Megertu.
Vivian Cheruiyot’s Athletics Career
Vivian Cheruiyot has built a legendary athletics career through relentless determination and world-class performances. She started running seriously at age twelve after coach David Maiyo discovered her talent.
Moreover, she quickly impressed at the national level and won the Kenyan Cross Country trials in 1997, though Vivian was too young to join the senior team that year. A year later, Cheruiyot competed at the global cross-country championships and finished fifth.
However, she continued to medal as a junior, winning silver in 1999, gold in 2000, and bronze in 2002 at the World Cross Country Championships.
Cheruiyot dominated the track, winning gold in the 5,000m at the World Championships in 2009 and 2011, and in the 10,000m in 2011 and 2015. At the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, Cheruiyot won both the 5,000m and 10,000m. She also claimed African and Commonwealth titles in the 5,000m.
Vivian competed in four Olympic Games, starting in Sydney 2000. She won gold in the 5,000m at Rio 2016. In the same year, she won silver in the 5,000m at London 2012, silver in the 10,000m at Rio 2016, and bronze in the 10,000m at London 2012.
After dominating on the track, Cheruiyot switched to road racing. She made her marathon debut in London in 2017, finishing fourth. In 2018 London Marathon she won in 2:18:31. Vivian Cheruiyot also won the 2017 Frankfurt Marathon and finished second at the 2018 New York City Marathon. In 2019 London Marathon she also finished second.