Eliud Kipchoge becomes first person to finish marathon in less than 2 hours

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.

“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.

HISTORY! pic.twitter.com/qjLfofhL5s

— Eliud Kipchoge (@EliudKipchoge) October 12, 2019

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.

What history looks like. 🙌 🇰🇪#INEOS159 #NoHumanIsLimited pic.twitter.com/EX3CeiSnMJ

— INEOS 1:59 Challenge (@INEOS159) October 12, 2019

⏱️ 01:59:40

🙌 One of the greatest sporting achievements of all time. #INEOS159 #NoHumanIsLimited pic.twitter.com/SzGbqXSpvp

— INEOS 1:59 Challenge (@INEOS159) October 12, 2019

HISTORY! @EliudKipchoge becomes the first human to run a marathon in less than two hours!

5km – 14m.10s ✅

10km– 28m.20s ✅

Half-marathon – 59m.35s ✅

Marathon – 1h.59m.40s ✅#INEOS159 #NoHumanIsLimited pic.twitter.com/ie4evzAT9n

— Olympic Channel (@olympicchannel) October 12, 2019

A blistering 1.59.40! Congratulations @EliudKipchoge for the historic achievement in shattering the sub-two-hour barrier for the marathon; you are arguably the greatest runner of all time. #NoHumanIsLimited #INEOS159 pic.twitter.com/2Pmjo1yjX2

— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) October 12, 2019