Paul Machoka

About

Paul Machoka is a Kenyan mountain runner born on July 28, 1998, who has emerged as one of the sport's fastest-rising talents over the past two years, progressing from a cross-country background to the winner's podium at the Mountain Running World Cup overall standings. He joined Atletica Saluzzo's Italian-based training programme and in 2024 announced himself internationally by winning the Biella-Oropa race on debut and then defeating defending champion Philemon Kiriago at the Thyon-Dixence in Switzerland. His 2025 season confirmed him as a genuine world-class force: he won both the Long and Classic classifications of the 2025 Mountain Running World Cup overall standings, won the Zmeu X-Fest (1:48:52) and the Tatra Race Run, and earned a bronze medal at the 2025 World Mountain Running and Trail Championships in the Up and Down discipline, separated from the silver medalist by only five seconds. At the 2025 Ledro Sky Trentino Grand Finale he pushed compatriots Elhousine Elazzaoui and Patrick Kipngeno to the limit before finishing third. He is part of the same extraordinary Kenyan cohort — alongside Kipngeno, Kiriago, and Saoli — that has made Kenya the dominant nation in world mountain running, and at 27 he appears to be only at the beginning of his potential.

Notable Wins

• — Mountain Running World Cup 2025 (Long and Classic overall)
• — World Mountain Running Championships 2025 – Up and Down Bronze
• — Zmeu X-Fest 2025 (1:48:52)
• — Tatra Race Run 2025
• — Biella-Oropa 2024
• — Thyon-Dixence 2024