I started running because my neighbour, Patrick Sang, was an

When the great marathoner Eliud Kipchoge declared, “I started running because my neighbour, Patrick Sang, was an athlete and I wanted to be just like him. Patrick came from the same village as I do and my mother used to be his teacher. I was so inspired by his success,” he revealed the seed from which greatness is born. For no champion rises alone, and no destiny begins in isolation. Every soul is shaped by examples, by neighbors, by teachers, by the sight of another who dares to run farther, climb higher, dream larger. Kipchoge’s words remind us that inspiration is the spark that lights the fire of greatness.

The ancients themselves knew this truth. The Greeks told of Achilles, who was trained by the wise centaur Chiron, and of Alexander the Great, who sat at the feet of Aristotle. The path of the hero begins when the young behold the example of those before them. Kipchoge looked not to distant stars, but to his neighbor, Patrick Sang, and saw in him the possibility of glory. This is the origin of his journey: the realization that greatness can be born even in the soil of one’s own village.

Patrick Sang himself was no ordinary figure. A world-class steeplechaser, he carried the pride of Kenya to the global stage. But his greatest legacy may not have been his own medals, but the inspiration he gave to the young boy who watched him from afar. Kipchoge, seeing Sang’s triumph, understood that success was not a foreign dream but a reality that could spring from his own feet, his own breath, his own will. Thus, inspiration becomes a bridge: what one man achieves becomes proof that another can follow.

History bears many such examples. Think of Mahatma Gandhi, who drew inspiration from Tolstoy and Henry David Thoreau, and in turn became an inspiration to Martin Luther King Jr. The chain of greatness is unbroken, each link forged by the vision of one life touching another. Just as Sang inspired Kipchoge, so too does Kipchoge now inspire millions, showing what the human spirit can endure and accomplish. Inspiration multiplies, passing from teacher to student, from neighbor to neighbor, until it shapes nations and generations.

The meaning of Kipchoge’s words is clear: success is not born in solitude, but in community. His mother taught Patrick Sang, Sang inspired Kipchoge, and Kipchoge became the fastest marathoner in history. Each life touches another, each story plants a seed. Greatness begins when we allow ourselves to be moved by those who came before us, and when we in turn live in a way that awakens courage in those who watch us.

The lesson for us is this: never underestimate the power of example. You may not know who is watching you, whose future you are shaping with your persistence, your kindness, your courage. Likewise, never close your eyes to the examples around you. Learn from them, draw strength from them, and let their victories remind you of your own potential. Inspiration is not to be envied, but to be embraced and passed on.

Practical wisdom follows. Seek out role models who embody the values you cherish. Surround yourself with those who lift you higher. When you see someone succeed, let it fuel your determination rather than diminish your own worth. And live with awareness that you, too, are an example—whether to your children, your neighbors, or even strangers. By striving toward your best, you may awaken greatness in another.

Therefore, let us honor Kipchoge’s confession: “I started running because my neighbour, Patrick Sang, was an athlete and I wanted to be just like him.” In these simple words lies a profound truth: greatness is contagious. One life lived with discipline and courage can ignite countless others. So live boldly, live excellently, for you know not whose destiny may be shaped by the light of your example.