Eliud Kipchoge

Kenyan long-distance runner widely regarded as the greatest marathoner of all time, first person to run a marathon in under 2 hours in 2019.

Eliud Kipchoge was born in Kapsisiywa, Kenya in 1984 and became the greatest marathon runner in history — holding the world record and having run the only sub-two-hour marathon in history, albeit in unofficial conditions. He competed as a track runner from 2003, winning the World Championship 5000m gold in Paris 2003 at 18. He transitioned to the marathon in 2013. His marathon world record of 2:00:35 was set in Berlin in September 2023, shattering his own previous record of 2:01:09. In October 2019 he ran 1:59:40 at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna — the first sub-two-hour marathon in human history, though ineligible for the world record due to the use of pacemakers and other conditions. He won Olympic marathon gold in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021. He won 7 World Marathon Majors titles including Berlin (4 times), London (4 times) and Chicago. His 5000m personal best of 12:46.53 and 10,000m personal best of 26:49.02 reflect world-class track ability at his foundation. His Kaptagat training camp in the Rift Valley, his communal approach to training and his philosophy — No Human Is Limited — have made him as significant a figure in endurance sport culture as in its statistics.

Smooth running form, exceptional pacing, mental toughness

Revolutionized marathon running with consistent sub-2:10 times and mental approach

• Olympic Gold Marathon 2016 (Rio), 2021 (Tokyo)
• World Champion Marathon 2003 (as 5000m runner also)
• Berlin Marathon winner 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022
• Chicago Marathon winner 2014, 2019, 2023
• London Marathon winner 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
• Sub-2-hour marathon (INEOS Challenge) 2019 (1:59:40)