Three-time Olympic champion Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele has withdrawn from Sunday’s, October 4th London marathon with a calf injury.
“I am very disappointed that I cannot race on Sunday.”
Very disappointed that I cannot race on Sunday. #LondonMarathon
— Kenenisa Bekele (@KenenisaBekele) October 2, 2020
“I have been having treatment every day since then and I truly believed I would be ready, but today it is worse and I now know I cannot race on it.”
“This race was so important to me. My time in Berlin last year gave me great confidence and motivation and I was looking forward to show that again, I have worked so hard for it. I realise many people around the world have been looking forward to this race and I am sorry to disappoint my fans, the organisers and my fellow competitors. I will take time to recover and become fit again and I hope to be back in London next year.”
"I realise many people around the world have been looking forward to this race and I am sorry to disappoint my fans, the organisers and my fellow competitors." (2/2)
— NN Running Team (@NNRunningTeam) October 2, 2020
Jos Hermens, manager of Kenenisa and director of Global Sports Communication / NN Running Team said: “The covid-19 pandemic turned the world upside down and had a big influence on the sports world in general, but also had a big influence specifically on the preparation of Kenenisa Bekele in the lead up to London Marathon.”
