Eliud Kipchoge completed the marathon in a time of 1 hour 59 minutes and 40 seconds. The Olympic champion achieved the record in Prater Park in the Austrian capital
Vienna: Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge created history on Saturday (October 12) as he became the first man in the world to complete a marathon in under two hours. He achieved the feat in Vienna, Austria during the ‘Ineos 1:59 Challenge’.
The timing, however, will not be counted as an official world record by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) as this was an unofficial event. Kipchoge is the world record holder in marathon as he had achieved the mark in Berlin in 2016 with a time of 2:01:39 hours.
Kipchoge completed the marathon in a time of 1 hour 59 minutes and 40 seconds. The Olympic champion achieved the record in Prater Park in the Austrian capital.
HISTORY! pic.twitter.com/qjLfofhL5s
— Eliud Kipchoge (@EliudKipchoge)“Kipchoge achieved the feat with a team of 41 in-and-out pacemakers, seven at a time, whose positions were guided by lasers projected on the road from a support car in front. These assisted conditions, and the fact the run was not part of an open event, mean his achievement will not count as an official world record,” The Guardian reported.
After the marathon, Kipchoge said, “I am feeling good. It has taken 65 years for a human to make history in sport. After Roger Bannister (running a sub four-minute mile in 1954) it took another 65 years … I’m happy to be the man to run under two hours. No human is limited, and I’m expecting more people to do it after today.
“The 41 pacemakers are among the best athletes in the whole world … to all of them I want to say thank you, thank you for doing the job. We made history together.”
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. Asante. pic.twitter.com/0HTVBjB6YY
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