This year’s Rotterdam Marathon was held on Sunday 10 April 2022, and after 21 editions, during which the victory has always gone to an athlete from Kenya or Ethiopia, a Dutch runner and Olympic silver medalist Abdi Nageeye prevailed, clocking 2:04.54 for gold ahead of Leul Gebreselasse (2:04.54), while Kenyan Reuben Kipyego (2:05.10) won the bronze. One hour later, the most famous Dutch runner crossed the finishing line – Arjen Robben. Former Bayern, Real and Chelsea winger also completed his first marathon, way after the favorites, and also the other Kenyans, Rodgers Ondati Gesabwa (6th place, 2:09:40) and Philemon Kacheran (8th place 2:10:12), and Daisy Cherotich (8th place for women, 2:30:42).De finish van @ArjenRobben en @erbenwennemars! #demooiste pic.twitter.com/dcAo2JlUXj— Runner’s World NL (@runnersworldnl) April 10, 2022 Nearly a year after his second (and final) football retirement, the former Dutch international wanted to try himself as a marathon runner, and finished the race with a pretty impressive time: three hours, 13 minutes and 40 seconds. But nevertheless, the Dutchman, who ran alongside Erben Wennemars, a former Dutch speed skater who set three world records during his career, wasn’t impressed with marathon.“Not fun – it really wasn’t fun. I made it, but that’s about it. I often went deep and had to fight often enough, but this was also a real fight. That audience on the side helps you so much. Thanks to everyone for that – that got me through. In the beginning, I was a bit preoccupied with a time – but at a certain point you throw that overboard. Then it’s surviving after entering my first marathon. Then you notice what something like that does to your body, but I made it” Robben told Rijnmond via Goal.Kipyego settles for bronze at Rotterdam MarathonDuring his impressive career, Arjen Robben was known for his impressive speed and regarded as one of the best Dutch players of all-time and scored over 200 goals in a trophy-laden career. He decided to stop his career in June 2021, after playing for his boyhood club Groningen. Blisteringly pacy Robben clocked the quickest speed ever by a footballer when he was recorded at almost 23mph during his country’s 5-1 mauling of then-holders Spain at the 2014 World Cup.
