Kenenisa Bekele ‘100% confident’ he can smash world record at Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon

The Ethiopian long-distance running legend, who recorded the second-fastest time over the 42.195km distance during his Berlin triumph last September, is aiming to better Dennis Kimetto’s record of 2:02:57 – set back in 2014.

Bekele, 34, came close to breaking his Kenyan rival’s historic run in the German capital, crossing the finish line just six seconds slower for a personal best, 2:03:03.

But the 5,000m and 10,000m world record holder, who also has three Olympic gold medals to his name, believes he can rewrite the history books in the UAE.

“Of course I am believing in myself, that I can break the world record in Dubai on Friday,” he told Sport360. “My condition is good, I hope to break this record.

“My confidence is 100 per cent but of course you never know, anything can happen in a race and marathon running – in a race you have to be confident 100 per cent and believe in yourself.

“I believe it but this is a competition, I’m not competing alone, many athletes are out there too – weather, wind, temperature conditions, these may change your plan.”