Eliud Kipchoge: First Athlete to Run a Marathon Under Two Hours, 1:59:40

Eliud Kipchoge on Saturday broke the two-hour marathon barrier at the Ineos 1:59 challenge in Vienna.

Eliud ran 1:59:40 to complete the 42 kilometer distance in the fastest time in history. He becomes the first man to run a marathon under 2 hours.

“…It has taken 65 years for a human being to make history in sports… I’m the happiest man to run under 2-hours in order to inspire many people and tell them that No Human is Limited,” said Eliud Kipchoge after crossing the finish line.

HISTORY! pic.twitter.com/qjLfofhL5s

— Eliud Kipchoge – EGH🇰🇪 (@EliudKipchoge) October 12, 2019

According to Eliud, “The hardest time was actually before the start.”

A word to the 41 pacemakers, he termed them ‘the best athletics in the world. I want to say thank you and for accepting to do the job’.

The world marathoner said globally, everyone can earn a good life and make the world beautiful.

“The positivity of sport, I want it to be a clean and interesting sport, wake up early in the morning and run.

It can be good for all.

Together when we run, we can kick all the diseases by actually running. Thank you to all the world for watching me. I appreciate your time. We have made history together,” said an elated Eliud.

Eliud’s coach, Patrick Sang said: “He has inspired all of us to stretch our limits in our lives.”

“Everything went perfectly. Records are meant to be broken, I’m sure someone down the road will want to try to break this one, but history has been made.”

Recorded Official Splits

5km 00:14:10

10km 00:28:20

15km 00:42:34

20km 00:56:47

25km 01:10:59

30km 01:25:11

35km 01:39:23

40km 01:59:40

Jim Ratcliffe, founder of the INEOS chemicals company termed likened Eliud as a ‘super human’. “I can’t believe he’s done it. He did the first half in less than an hour and then he’s done that just again.”

Kipchoge is the current holder of the official marathon World Record, a time of 2:01:39 set at the Berlin Marathon in 2018.