HISTORY! pic.twitter.com/qjLfofhL5s
— Eliud Kipchoge (@EliudKipchoge) October 12, 2019
Clocking in at 1:59:40, Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge just became the first person to run a marathon in less than two hours. That means he averaged a pace of four minutes and a little over thirty seconds per mile for 26.2 miles!
Kipchoge finished the marathon on Saturday morning in front of a crowd of supporters and spectators specifically gathered for the record breaking event held in Vienna, Austria.
According to ESPN, this was Kipchoge’s second attempt to break the two-hour mark. The first was held in May 2017 in Monza, Italy.
He shared his thanks and appreciation with the world after the history making moment via Twitter.
“Today we went to the Moon and came back to earth! I am at a loss for words for all the support I have received from all over the world. Thank you to all who gave me the opportunity.”
The Olympian’s record-breaking feat will not count as a world record, due to the assistance of pacemakers, however he still holds the world record of 2:01:39 which he set in Berlin last year.
Check out the celebration in Kenya once he crossed the finish line.
Reaction to Kipchoge’s sub-two-hour marathon back home in Kenya. Amazing scene. Dedicated to everyone to took more than two hours to get up this morning. pic.twitter.com/KksECmWbJK
— Will Downing (@WillDowningComm) October 12, 2019