Career Timeline of Eliud Kipchoge: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Eliud Kipchoge built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Eliud Kipchoge is a celebrated Kenyan long-distance runner, renowned for his dominance in the marathon. He is a two-time Olympic marathon champion (2016 and 2020) and held the world record in the marathon from 2018 to 2023. Notably, he has achieved 3 of the 10 fastest marathon times ever recorded. While previously specializing in the 5000 meters, Kipchoge's focus and success have solidified his place as one of the greatest marathon runners in history.
1993: Kipchoge's halfway split would have been a world record in the standalone half-marathon in 1993.
On September 25, Kipchoge achieved halfway in 59:51 which, being at the time, the fastest split in marathon history, would have been a world record in the standalone half-marathon in 1993.
2002: Kenyan Trials Winner
In 2002, Kipchoge won the Kenyan trials for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships junior race.
2003: World Junior Record
In 2003, Kipchoge set a world junior record in the 5000 m at the Bislett Games, running a time of 12:52.61 minutes.
2003: World Championships Gold Medal
In 2003, Kipchoge won a gold medal at the 5000 m final at the World Championships in Paris.
2003: IAAF World Cross Country Championships
In 2003, Kipchoge won the junior race at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
2004: Athens Olympics Bronze Medal
In 2004, Kipchoge won a bronze medal at the 5000 m final at the Athens Olympics.
2004: Golden League Roma Meeting
In July 2004, Kipchoge participated in the Golden League 2004 Roma Meeting. He finished first in the 5000 m event with 12:46.53, making him the sixth-fastest ever in the event.
2006: World Indoor Championships Bronze
In 2006, Kipchoge won a bronze at the World Indoor Championships.
2007: World Championships Silver Medal
In 2007, Kipchoge secured a silver medal at the World Championships.
2008: Beijing Olympics Silver Medal
During the 2008 Olympics held in Beijing, China, Kipchoge won a silver medal in the 5000 m event.
2009: Fifth Place at World Championships
In 2009, Kipchoge finished in fifth place at the World Championships in Athletics.
2010: Commonwealth Games Silver Medal
In 2010, Kipchoge took silver at the Commonwealth Games.
2010: IAAF Diamond League Win
In 2010, Kipchoge won the 5000 m Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix in a meet record time, marking his debut on the IAAF Diamond League.
2011: Great Edinburgh Cross Country Win
In 2011, Kipchoge won the short race at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country.
October 2012: IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
In October 2012, Kipchoge placed sixth in the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Kavarna, Bulgaria.
2012: Edinburgh Cross Country Third Place
In 2012, Kipchoge finished third at the Edinburgh Cross Country.
2012: Switched to Road Running
In 2012, Kipchoge transitioned to road running and achieved the second-fastest half marathon debut.
August 2013: Half Marathon of Klagenfurt Win
In August 2013, Kipchoge won the Half Marathon of Klagenfurt.
2013: Berlin Marathon Second Place
In 2013, Kipchoge raced in the Berlin Marathon and finished second behind Wilson Kipsang, who set a new marathon world record. Kipchoge set the fifth-fastest time in history.
2013: Hamburg Marathon Victory
In 2013, Kipchoge won the Hamburg Marathon in a course record time.
2013: Wilson Kipsang finished third at the Berlin Marathon
In 2018, Wilson Kipsang of Kenya, the world record holder from 2013, finished third at the Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:06:48.
2014: Dennis Kimetto's Berlin Marathon record
In 2014, Dennis Kimetto set a world record at the Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:02:57, this record was broken by Kipchoge in 2018.
2014: Chicago Marathon Victory
In 2014, Kipchoge's first World Marathon Major victory came at the Chicago Marathon.
2015: London and Berlin Marathon Wins
In 2015, Kipchoge won the London Marathon and then the Berlin Marathon despite a shoe malfunction.
2015: Kipchoge's previous Berlin Marathon win in 2015
In 2023, Kipchoge won the race for a record fifth time, having already won in 2015.
August 2016: Rio Summer Olympics Gold Medal
In August 2016, Kipchoge won a gold medal in the marathon at the Rio Summer Olympics.
November 2016: Airtel Delhi Half Marathon Win
In November 2016, Kipchoge won the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon.
2016: Olympic Marathon Champion
In 2016, Eliud Kipchoge became the Olympic marathon champion.
2016: Kipchoge beats his own 2016 London Marathon best.
In 2019, Kipchoge beat his own 2016 London Marathon best by 28 seconds, setting a new course record.
2017: Kipchoge's previous Berlin Marathon win in 2017
In 2023, Kipchoge won the race for a record fifth time, having already won in 2017.
2017: Berlin Marathon Win
On September 2017, Kipchoge won the Berlin Marathon.
2018: Kipchoge named IAAF World Athlete of the Year
Following his outstanding performances in the 2018 season, Eliud Kipchoge was named the IAAF World Athlete of the Year, marking a high point in his career.
2018: Marathon World Record Holder
In 2018, Eliud Kipchoge became the world record holder in the marathon.
2018: Berlin Marathon World Record
In 2018, Kipchoge set a new marathon world record at the Berlin Marathon, clocking 2:01:39.
2018: Second fastest marathon time behind 2018 Berlin Marathon win.
In 2019, Kipchoge's London Marathon win was the second fastest marathon ever at that time, behind his 2018 Berlin Marathon win.
2018: Kipchoge's previous Berlin Marathon win in 2018
In 2023, Kipchoge won the race for a record fifth time, having already won in 2018.
2018: Kipchoge wins 2018 Berlin Marathon
On September 16, 2018, Eliud Kipchoge won the Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:01:39, setting a new world record. This broke the previous record by 1 minute and 18 seconds. He finished far ahead of the second-place runner.
2018: Kipchoge's previous world record set in 2018
On September 25, Kipchoge beat his own previous world record, which he set in 2018.
January 2019: Kipchoge named 2018 Sportsman of the Year at Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year Awards
On January 11, 2019, Eliud Kipchoge was honored as the 2018 Sportsman of the Year at the Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year Awards in Mombasa, Kenya, recognizing his achievements in athletics.
May 2019: Kipchoge announces Ineos 1:59 Challenge
In May 2019, Eliud Kipchoge announced his participation in the Ineos 1:59 Challenge, aiming to break the two-hour marathon barrier.
October 2019: Kipchoge breaks two-hour marathon barrier
On October 12, 2019, Eliud Kipchoge became the first person in recorded history to break the two-hour barrier for a marathon, running it in 1:59:40 in Vienna's Prater park.
October 2019: Ineos 1:59 Challenge
On October 2019, Kipchoge ran the marathon distance for the Ineos 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, achieving a time of 1:59:40.2, becoming the first person in recorded history to do a sub-two-hour marathon.
2019: Kipchoge wins 2019 London Marathon
In 2019, Eliud Kipchoge won the London Marathon with a time of 2:02:37, which was the second-fastest marathon ever at that time. He also set a new course record.
2020: Olympic Marathon Champion Again
In 2020, Eliud Kipchoge again secured the title of Olympic marathon champion.
2020: Eighth Place London Marathon
In 2020, Kipchoge finished eighth at the London Marathon.
2020: Kipchoge places 8th in 2020 London Marathon
In October 2020, Eliud Kipchoge finished 8th in the London Marathon with a time of 2:06:49, marking the lowest finish in his marathon career.
2020: Delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games
In preparation for the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, he won the NN Mission Marathon on April 18, 2021.
April 2021: Kipchoge wins NN Mission Marathon
On April 18, 2021, Eliud Kipchoge won the NN Mission Marathon in Enschede, Netherlands, with a time of 2:04:30, in preparation for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
August 2021: Kipchoge wins gold at Tokyo Olympics
In August 2021, Eliud Kipchoge won the gold medal in the men's marathon at the Tokyo Olympic Games, successfully defending his title from the Rio Olympics.
2021: Kipchoge announces desire to win all six World Marathon Majors
In January 2021, Eliud Kipchoge announced his desire to win all six World Marathon Majors, demonstrating his ambition to achieve further success in his career.
March 2022: Kipchoge wins 2021 Tokyo Marathon
In March 2022, Eliud Kipchoge won the 2021 Tokyo Marathon, which was postponed from 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions, with a time of 2:02:40.
2022: Kipchoge's previous Berlin Marathon win in 2022
In 2023, Kipchoge won the race for a record fifth time, having already won in 2022.
September 2023: Berlin Marathon Win
In September 2023, Kipchoge won the Berlin Marathon, marking his fifth win there.
2023: Kipchoge finishes sixth at 2023 Boston Marathon; Kipchoge wins 2023 Berlin Marathon
In 2023, Eliud Kipchoge finished sixth at the Boston Marathon due to a leg problem, marking the third defeat of his career. Later in the year, he won the Berlin Marathon for a record fifth time.
2024: Kipchoge fails to finish 2024 Paris Olympics marathon
In 2024, Eliud Kipchoge failed to finish the marathon for the first time in his career when defending his gold medal at the Paris Olympics, citing discomfort.
2028: Kipchoge states he won't compete at 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
Following his failure to finish the 2024 Paris Olympics marathon, Kipchoge stated that he would not compete at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
