Eliud Kipchoge is a Kenyan long-distance runner widely considered one of the greatest marathoners ever. He is a two-time Olympic marathon champion (2016, 2020) and held the world record in the event from 2018 to 2023 with a time of 2:01:09, achieved at the 2022 Berlin Marathon. Kipchoge has recorded four of the ten fastest marathon times in history. Before focusing on marathons, he excelled in the 5000 meters.
1967: Significant Marathon Record Improvement in 1967
The year 1967 marked a significant improvement in the marathon world record time prior to Kipchoge's record-breaking run in 2018.
1967: Greatest Marathon World Record Improvement
The year 1967 saw the previous greatest improvement in a marathon world record time, which Eliud Kipchoge surpassed with his 2018 record.
1972: 1972 Olympic Marathon Sets Benchmark for Victory Margin
The 1972 Olympic marathon held the record for the largest victory margin in an Olympic marathon until Kipchoge's win in 2016.
November 1984: Birth of Eliud Kipchoge
Eliud Kipchoge was born in Kapsisiywa, Nandi County, Kenya in November 1984.
November 1984: Birth and Upbringing
Eliud Kipchoge was born in November 1984 and raised by a single mother in Kapsisiywa, Nandi County, Kenya.
1999: Graduation from Kaptel Secondary School
Eliud Kipchoge graduated from Kaptel Secondary School in Nandi County in 1999.
2000: Sammy Kipketer's World Best Time
Sammy Kipketer set the world's best time for a 5km road race in Carlsbad, California, with a time of 12:59.52.
2001: Meeting Patrick Sang
Eliud Kipchoge met his trainer, Patrick Sang, a former Olympic medalist, in 2001 at the age of 16.
2002: Kenyan Trials and World Cross Country Championships
Eliud Kipchoge won the Kenyan trials for the 2002 IAAF World Cross Country Championships junior race and finished fifth in the individual race at the championships in Dublin. He also won the 5000m race at the Kenyan trials for the World Junior Championships but missed the event due to illness.
2003: World Cross Country and World Championship Wins
Eliud Kipchoge won the junior race at the World Cross Country Championships and the senior 5000m world championship, setting a championship record in the latter.
2003: World Junior Record in 5000m
Eliud Kipchoge set a world junior record in the 5000m at the 2003 Bislett Games with a time of 12:52.61.
2003: World Cross Country Championships Junior Race Victory
Eliud Kipchoge won the junior race at the 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
2003: Gold Medal at 2003 World Championships
Eliud Kipchoge won the gold medal in the 5000m final at the 2003 World Championships in Paris, narrowly defeating Hicham El Guerrouj.
2004: Sixth Fastest Time in 5000m
Eliud Kipchoge ran the sixth fastest ever time in the 5000m at the Golden League 2004 Roma Meeting, clocking in at 12:46.53.
2004: Olympic Bronze Medal
Eliud Kipchoge won a bronze medal for Kenya in the 5000m at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
2004: Olympic Bronze Medal and Trofeo Alasport Win
Eliud Kipchoge won a bronze medal in the 5000m at the 2004 Athens Olympics and also won the Trofeo Alasport cross country race earlier that year.
2006: World Indoor Championships Bronze Medal
Eliud Kipchoge won a bronze medal in the 3000m at the 2006 World Indoor Championships in Moscow.
2006: Bronze Medal at World Indoor Championships
Eliud Kipchoge won a bronze medal in the 3000m indoor at the 2006 World Championships in Moscow.
2007: World Championships Silver Medal
Eliud Kipchoge secured a silver medal in the 5000m at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka.
2007: Silver Medal at World Championships
Eliud Kipchoge earned a silver medal in the 5000m final at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, finishing behind Bernard Lagat.
2008: Olympic Silver Medal
Eliud Kipchoge won a silver medal in the 5000m at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
2008: Olympic Silver Medal and Circuit Wins
Eliud Kipchoge won the silver medal in the 5000m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, setting a time that was better than the previous Olympic record but not enough to beat Kenenisa Bekele. He also won the Great Yorkshire Run 10K and Campaccio Cross Country that year.
2008: Sammy Wanjiru's Olympic Victory
In 2008, Sammy Wanjiru became the first Kenyan male to win an Olympic marathon gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.
2008: Kipchoge's Half Marathon Debut
Eliud Kipchoge made his highly anticipated half marathon debut in the 2008 Lille Half Marathon.
2009: Missed Podium at World Championships
Eliud Kipchoge finished fifth in the 5000m at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics and ninth in the 3000m at the 2009 IAAF World Athletics Final.
2010: Commonwealth Games and Belgrade Race
Eliud Kipchoge won the silver medal in the 5000m at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, narrowly losing to Moses Kipsiro. He then competed in the Belgrade Race through History the following day, facing a setback when his shoe came off, but still managing to finish second.
2010: Mosop Sets Half Marathon Debut Record
In 2010, Moses Mosop set a new record for the fastest half marathon debut with a time of 59:20 in Milan.
2010: Diamond League Debut and Victory
Eliud Kipchoge made his debut on the 2010 IAAF Diamond League circuit and won the 5000m event at the Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix with a meet record time.
2010: Commonwealth Games Silver Medal
Eliud Kipchoge earned a silver medal in the 5000m at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
2011: Kipchoge's 2011 Season Highlights
In 2011, Kipchoge secured a victory at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country, outpacing Asbel Kiprop. He narrowly missed out on defending his title at the Carlsbad 5000, finishing second to Dejen Gebremeskel. Kipchoge's 3000 meters race in Doha, where he clocked a time of 7:27.66, placed him as the 12th-fastest at that distance up to that point in 2011. He represented Kenya at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics, reaching the 5000m final for the fifth consecutive time, ultimately finishing seventh.
October 2012: Kipchoge Competes at the 2012 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
On October 6, 2012, Eliud Kipchoge participated in the 2012 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Kavarna, Bulgaria. Zersenay Tadese from Eritrea emerged victorious, finishing the race in 1:00:19, while Kipchoge secured sixth place with a time of 1:01:52.
2012: Transition to Road Running
Eliud Kipchoge switched to road running in 2012 and made a remarkable half-marathon debut.
2012: World Junior Record Broken
Hagos Gebrhiwet of Ethiopia broke Eliud Kipchoge's world junior record in the 5000m, setting a new time of 12:47.53.
2012: Kipchoge's 2012 Season Summary
Kipchoge's 2012 season saw him achieve a third-place finish at both the Edinburgh Cross Country, behind Asbel Kiprop and Jonathan Hay, and the Carlsbad 5000 in March. He participated in the Prefontaine Classic, aiming for a spot on the 10,000m Olympic team, but a late-stage setback in the Kenyan trial race resulted in a seventh-place finish. A similar result in the Kenyan 5000m trial race dashed his hopes for a third consecutive Olympic appearance.
August 2013: Kipchoge Wins Klagenfurt Half Marathon
In August 2013, Kipchoge won the Half Marathon of Klagenfurt, finishing with a time of 1:01:02.
2013: Marathon Debut and First Major Marathon Win
Eliud Kipchoge made his marathon debut, winning the 2013 Hamburg Marathon with a course record. However, he came second to Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich, who broke the world record, at the 2013 Berlin Marathon.
2013: Kipchoge Places Second in Berlin Marathon
In 2013, Kipchoge participated in the Berlin Marathon and secured second place with a time of 2:04:05, marking the fifth-fastest time in history at that point. His impressive performance was overshadowed by Wilson Kipsang, who set a new world record with a time of 2:03:23. Geoffrey Kamworor, also from Kenya, secured third place with a time of 2:06:26. This race marked the ninth world record set at the Berlin Marathon.
2013: Wilson Kipsang's Reign as World Record Holder
Wilson Kipsang held the marathon world record from 2013 until Kipchoge's historic run in 2018.
2014: Dennis Kimetto Sets Marathon World Record
Dennis Kimetto set a world record at the Berlin Marathon in 2014 with a time of 2:02:57.
2014: Chicago Marathon Victory
Eliud Kipchoge won the Chicago Marathon in 2014, his first victory at a World Marathon Major.
2015: Kipchoge's 2015 Marathon Victories and Shoe Malfunction
In 2015, Eliud Kipchoge experienced both triumphs and challenges. He won both the London Marathon, finishing with a time of 2:04:42, and the Berlin Marathon later that year. Despite setting a personal best time of 2:04:00 at the Berlin Marathon, he faced a significant obstacle: his shoes malfunctioned, causing the insoles to come out from 10km onwards. Kipchoge decided against adjusting his shoes, enduring bloodied and blistered feet to avoid losing time and secure the victory.
August 2016: Kipchoge's Olympic Gold and Record-Breaking Victory Margin
On August 21, 2016, during the final day of the Rio Summer Olympics, Eliud Kipchoge etched his name in history by winning the men's marathon event. He secured the gold medal with a time of 2:08:44, outpacing Feyisa Lilesa of Ethiopia (2:09:54) and Galen Rupp of the USA (2:10:05), who claimed silver and bronze respectively. This victory marked the largest winning margin in an Olympic marathon since the 1972 Games, with Kipchoge finishing a remarkable 70 seconds ahead of Lilesa.
November 2016: Kipchoge Conquers the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon
On November 20, 2016, Eliud Kipchoge added another victory to his impressive resume by winning the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon. He completed the race in a time of 59:44.
2016: First Olympic Marathon Victory
Eliud Kipchoge won his first Olympic marathon gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games.
2016: First World Marathon Majors Series Title
Eliud Kipchoge won his first World Marathon Majors series title in 2016.
2016: Kipchoge Sets Previous London Marathon Record
In 2016, Eliud Kipchoge set a course record at the London Marathon, which he later surpassed in 2019.
2016: Kipchoge Triumphs at the 2016 London Marathon
In April 2016, Eliud Kipchoge achieved a remarkable victory at the London Marathon, winning the race for the second consecutive year. His time of 2:03:05 not only set a new course record but also marked the second-fastest marathon time in history, coming just 8 seconds short of Dennis Kimetto's world record.
2016: Kenenisa Bekele's Berlin Marathon Win
Kenenisa Bekele won the 2016 Berlin Marathon.
2017: Kipchoge's 2017 Berlin Marathon Victory
Despite rainy conditions, Kipchoge emerged triumphant in the 2017 Berlin Marathon, finishing in 2:03:32. He crossed the finish line 14 seconds ahead of Guye Adola, who was running his first-ever marathon, setting a new record for the fastest marathon debut. Notably, previous marathon world record holder Wilson Kipsang and the 2016 winner, Kenenisa Bekele, were unable to finish the race.
2017: Second World Marathon Majors Series Title
Eliud Kipchoge secured his second consecutive World Marathon Majors series title in 2017.
2018: Kipchoge Shatters Marathon Records at 2018 Berlin Marathon
In an unprecedented feat at the 2018 BMW Berlin Marathon, Eliud Kipchoge propelled marathoning to new heights. His time of 2:01:39 shattered the previous world record, held by Dennis Kimetto for four years, by an astounding 78 seconds. This marked the first time a marathon had been completed under 2:02, ushering in a new era for the sport.
2018: Kipchoge's Record-Breaking Berlin Marathon Win
Kipchoge's 2018 Berlin Marathon win, where he clocked a time of 2:02:37, was the fastest marathon time recorded until his victory in the 2019 London Marathon.
2018: Kipchoge Honored as IAAF World Athlete of the Year
In recognition of his outstanding achievements in 2018, Eliud Kipchoge was honored as the IAAF World Athlete of the Year. He shared this prestigious award with Caterine Ibargüen, who received the female World Athlete of the Year title.
2018: Kipchoge Makes History with Sub-2:02 Marathon
Eliud Kipchoge achieved a monumental feat in the world of athletics on September 16, 2018, at the Berlin Marathon. He not only won the race but also shattered the existing world record by an astonishing margin of 1 minute and 18 seconds, clocking in at an unprecedented 2:01:39. This eclipsed the previous record of 2:02:57 set by Dennis Kimetto at the same event in 2014. This remarkable achievement marked the most significant improvement in the marathon world record time since 1967.
2018: Berlin Marathon Victory and World Record
Eliud Kipchoge won the Berlin Marathon in 2018, setting a new world record of 2:01:39. This marked his third victory in Berlin, equaling the record held by Haile Gebrselassie.
2018: First World Record in Marathon
Eliud Kipchoge set his first world record in the marathon in 2018.
2018: Third World Marathon Majors Series Title
Eliud Kipchoge achieved his third World Marathon Majors series title in 2018.
January 2019: Kipchoge Receives Coveted Sports Awards
On January 11, 2019, in Mombasa, Kenya, Kipchoge received the prestigious title of 2018 Sportsman of the Year at the Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year Awards. This accolade followed his exceptional performance in the 2018 season, where he achieved a groundbreaking sub-two-hour marathon, solidifying his place in sporting history.
May 2019: Kipchoge Announces Ineos 1:59 Challenge
Following his London Marathon triumph, Kipchoge announced his next ambitious goal: the Ineos 1:59 Challenge, another attempt to break the two-hour barrier for a marathon.
October 2019: Awarded Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart
President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed Eliud Kipchoge as Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart in recognition of his sub-two-hour marathon achievement in October 2019.
October 2019: Kipchoge Breaks Two-Hour Marathon Barrier
On October 12, 2019, Eliud Kipchoge etched his name in history by becoming the first person to break the two-hour marathon barrier. At Vienna's Prater park, he completed the 4.4 laps of the Hauptallee in an astonishing 1:59:40, marking a watershed moment for the sport and solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest marathon runners of all time.
October 2019: Sub-Two-Hour Marathon
Eliud Kipchoge became the first person to run a marathon distance in under two hours at the Ineos 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, achieving a time of 1:59:40.2.
2019: Kipchoge Makes History with Fourth London Marathon Victory
Eliud Kipchoge further solidified his dominance in marathon running by winning the 2019 London Marathon, marking his fourth victory in the prestigious event. His impressive time of 2:02:37 was the second-fastest marathon time ever recorded at that time, only surpassed by his own record-breaking run at the 2018 Berlin Marathon. Kipchoge's victory also saw him setting a new course record, surpassing his previous best time at the 2016 London Marathon by 28 seconds.
2019: Fourth World Marathon Majors Series Title
Eliud Kipchoge claimed his fourth World Marathon Majors series title in 2019.
2020: Eighth Place Finish at London Marathon
Eliud Kipchoge finished in eighth place at the 2020 London Marathon, marking one of his few non-podium finishes.
2020: Second Olympic Marathon Victory
Eliud Kipchoge secured his second consecutive Olympic marathon gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games.
2020: Kipchoge Faces Setback at 2020 London Marathon
In a surprising turn of events, Eliud Kipchoge faced a setback at the 2020 London Marathon, finishing in eighth place with a time of 2:06:49. This marked his lowest finish in his illustrious marathoning career.
April 2021: NN Mission Marathon Victory
In April 2021, Eliud Kipchoge triumphed at the NN Mission Marathon held in Enschede Airport Twente, Netherlands, clocking a winning time of 2:04:30.
August 2021: Kipchoge's 2016 Olympic Time Remains His Slowest Marathon
As of August 2021, Kipchoge's winning time of 2:08:44 from the 2016 Rio Olympics remained his slowest marathon time.
August 2021: Olympic Gold Medal and Documentary Release
Eliud Kipchoge successfully defended his Olympic marathon title at the Tokyo Games in August 2021, winning in a time of 2:08:38. This victory marked him as only the third person to win consecutive gold medals in the men's marathon. The same month saw the release of "Kipchoge: The Last Milestone," a documentary about his Ineos 1:59 challenge.
March 2022: Tokyo Marathon Victory and World Marathon Majors Aspiration
In March 2022, Eliud Kipchoge won the Tokyo Marathon with a course-record time of 2:02:40. This victory was aligned with his previously stated goal to win all six World Marathon Majors, having already secured victories in London, Berlin, and Chicago.
2022: Berlin Marathon World Record
Eliud Kipchoge set a new world record at the 2022 Berlin Marathon, achieving a time of 2:01:09.
2022: Fifth World Marathon Majors Series Title
Eliud Kipchoge won his fifth World Marathon Majors series title in 2022.
September 2023: Fifth Berlin Marathon Victory
Eliud Kipchoge won his fifth Berlin Marathon in September 2023.
2023: Awarded Princess of Asturias Award
Eliud Kipchoge received the Princess of Asturias Award in the "Sports" category in 2023.
2023: World Record Broken, Berlin Marathon Victory
Eliud Kipchoge's world record in the marathon was broken by Kelvin Kiptum at the 2023 Chicago Marathon. However, Kipchoge won the Berlin Marathon in September 2023.
2023: Mixed Results at Boston and Berlin Marathons
In 2023, Eliud Kipchoge faced both triumph and setback. He experienced his third marathon career defeat at the Boston Marathon, finishing sixth. However, he bounced back by winning the Berlin Marathon for a record fifth time, finishing at 2:02:42, though falling short of his own world record.