He did the first half in less than an hour and then he's done that just again.' 'He even accelerated in the final kilometer. Jim Ratcliffe, founder of the chemicals company backing the attempt, exchanged high-fives with Kipchoge. 'The positivity of sport, I want to make it a clean sport and an interesting sport.' 'We can make this world a beautiful world and a peaceful world,' Kipchoge said, pointing out that the mission of his attempt went beyond athletics. The pacemakers left him for the final 500 meters, and Kipchoge punched his chest twice in celebration when he finished. Running at a consistent average pace of 2:50 minutes per kilometer (4:33.5 minutes per mile), Kipchoge was 11 seconds ahead of schedule halfway through his run. The groups were helped by a pace car with a laser beam, projecting the ideal position on the road. Kipchoge, who said he trained four and a half months for this race, was supported by 36 pacemakers who accompanied him in alternating groups, one of the reasons the IAAF will not ratify the time as a world record. I got a phone call from the president of Kenya. The pressure was very big on my shoulders. I tried and I did not get it - 65 years, I am the first man - I want to inspire many people that no human is limited,' he said. 'After Roger Bannister in 1954, it took another 63 years.

The Olympic champion and world record holder from Kenya clocked 1 hour, 59 minutes, 40.2 seconds Saturday at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, an event set up for the attempt.Īfter accomplishing the feat, Kipchoge, who was named as the second most dominant athlete in sports in ESPN's Dominant 20 index in 2018, said he was 'feeling good.' VIENNA - Eliud Kipchoge has become the first athlete to run a marathon in less than two hours, although it will not count as a world record.

You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browserĮliud Kipchoge runs first ever sub-two hour marathon in INEOS 1:59 challenge

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