Eliud Kipchoge enters Guinness Book of World Records after finishing Marathon under 2hrs

Kenyan athlete Eliud Kipchoge has become the first athlete to run a marathon in under two hours, beating the mark by 20 seconds.

Eliud Kipchoge, covered 42.2 kilometres in one hour 59 minutes 40 seconds in the Ineos 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, Austria on Saturday. This was his second attempt at breaking the two-hour barrier, after missing out by 26 seconds at a similar event on the Formula One track in Monza, Italy, on May 2017.   

Kipchoge, who was assisted by 41 pacemakers, has now entered the Guinness Book of World Records for running the first sub-two-hour marathon. The pacemakers left him for the final 500 metres, and Kipchoge punched his chest twice in celebration when he finished. Speaking after the historic challenge, Eliud said It has taken 65 years for a human to make history in the sport.

After Roger Bannister, it took another 65 years. He is happy to be the man to run under two hours. He added that No human is limited, and he is expecting more people to do it after today. He also thanked the 41 pacemakers for making history with him, adding that they are among the best athletes in the whole world.

The greatest marathoner did not forget his family especially his wife who witnessed every minute of the historic feat. INEOS, one of the world’s largest manufacturing companies, which also sponsors the children’s running charities, saw the race broadcasted to millions of people around the world both on traditional and digital channels.