Eliud Kipchoge's startling prediction before his dramatic exit and shoe giveaway at Paris Olympics

Eliud Kipchoge's dramatic exit from the Paris Olympic marathon marked the end of his legendary quest for a historic third gold.

Two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge made a startling prediction about the challenging conditions at the Paris 2024 Olympics before his unexpected exit from the race.

On the cusp of potentially achieving an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the marathon, the 39-year-old Kenyan superstar instead faced a heartbreaking conclusion to his Olympic career.

Kipchoge, widely regarded as the greatest marathoner of all time, had hoped to cap off his illustrious career with a historic victory.

However, the grueling conditions in Paris, compounded by the unrelenting heat and a particularly demanding course, proved too much even for the marathon legend.

Kipchoge, who is the only man to have run a marathon in under two hours—albeit in an unofficial race—stunned fans when he decided to bow out of the race around the 30-kilometer mark.

Before the race, Kipchoge had expressed concerns about the course and the extreme temperatures that would greet the runners on the day of the marathon.

"The course is really tough—about 40% is really hilly—and I think the temperature will contribute a lot," Kipchoge told BBC Sport Africa during his pre-race preparations.

"Even by eight, nine, ten in the morning, I think it will go up to 30 degrees. It is tough to run a full marathon [in] 30 degrees."

The marathon, which started at 7:00 a.m. local time to mitigate the impact of the rising temperatures, featured a challenging route that began in central Paris and ascended to an elevation of 183 meters above sea level on the road to Versailles.

Kipchoge, who had meticulously adjusted his training regime to prepare for these conditions, was nevertheless faced with the harsh reality of the Parisian heat and the punishing hills.

"I will keep in my mind about running the hilly course and try to do some runs [in] high temperatures to conduce my body towards Paris," Kipchoge had explained.

"Sometimes timing to train maybe at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. to feel that heat. It will depend on the day because it might be a faster marathon, it might be slow. But [at the] Olympics we don't consider time."

Despite his careful preparations the race unfolded in a way few could have predicted.

As the temperatures climbed and the marathoners began their grueling ascent back to Paris, Kipchoge found himself trailing the leading pack by about eight minutes.

Realizing that his dream of a third consecutive gold was slipping away, Kipchoge made the difficult decision to stop.

In an emotional moment captured by an AFP reporter in the crowd, Kipchoge turned to his adoring fans, who had gathered in anticipation of witnessing history, and handed over his shoes, bib, and socks to a lucky few.

The crowd responded with a rapturous reception, cheering wildly as Kipchoge climbed wearily into a waiting van and was driven away from the race that had meant so much to him.

Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola ultimately won the gold medal, setting a new Olympic record with a time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 26 seconds.

Tola, who described the victory as the "greatest day" of his life, celebrated his triumph on a day that was equally momentous for the marathon world, though for a different reason.

For Kipchoge, the Paris Olympics marked the end of an era, but his legacy as the greatest marathoner in history remains unchallenged.

His decision to hand over his shoes was symbolic, a passing of the torch to the next generation of marathoners who will strive to match the heights he has reached.