Kenyan runner, Eliud Kipchoge becomes the first person to run the marathon in less than two hours, clocking in at 1:59:40.

Eliud Kipchoge has made history by becoming the first athlete to run a marathon in less than two hours, although this will not count as a world record, according to the world athletics body.

"I'm the happiest man today. The message that no human is limited is now in everybody's mind," a very happy Kipchoge told reporters after the run, adding he expected more athletes to reach his feat in the future.

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"It has taken 65 years for a human being to make history in sport. I am the happiest man to run under two hours. I am here to inspire everyone that it can be done.

"From the first kilometres I was really comfortable. I have been training for it for the last four and a half months, and above all I have been putting in my heart and in my mind that I'll run an under two-hour marathon.

The 34-year-old already holds the men's world record for the distance with a time of 2hr 01min 39sec, which he set in the flat Berlin marathon on September 16, 2018.

It was his second attempt at breaking the two-hour barrier, after missing out by 26 seconds at a similar event on the Formula One track in Monza, Italy, in May 2017.

Social media was filled with congratulatory messages to the runner.