In the world of long-distance running, records are made to be broken. The world has just witnessed an awe-inspiring feat as Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum, a rising Kenyan athlete, achieved the seemingly impossible at the Chicago Marathon. Kiptum's unofficial time of 2:00:35 not only secured his victory but also saw him shatter the world record previously held by the legendary current World Marathon Record holder Eliud Kipchoge. While Kipchoge famously completed the Berlin marathon in under two hours in a non-record-eligible event, Kelvin Kiptum's achievement at the 2023 Chicago Marathon will forever be remembered as the day he became the world's best marathoner. 

Kiptum predicted he would break a record in the race.

"I think on Sunday, if the weather is good, I will go under the current course record," Kiptum said on Friday.

"Yes, I saw the time in front of me. I said let me try. Maybe I can run under two," he said. He had not originally targeted the world record but said he knew that t Kipchoge's previous mark of 2:01:09 was within reach in the final kilometers.

“I knew I was coming for a course record, but a world record – I am so happy,” he said. “A world record was not on my mind today, but I knew one day I would be a world record-holder.”

Kiptum was greeted at the finish by Bank of America Chicago Marathon Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski who hugged him while celebrating his win.

Kenya's President William Ruto congratulates Kelvin Kiptum for his amazing world record beating win.

Early Athletics chievements 

 Kelvin Kiptum grew up in Chepkorio, where you can find some of Kenya’s greatest runners. The famous Geoffrey Kamworor, a double New York Marathon winner comes from the same village as Kiptum. At the age of 13 he joined a village running group, and just five years later, at the age of 18, in October 2018, Kelvin Kiptum won the Eldoret Half Marathon in Kenya with a time of 1:02:01. He then debuted internationally at the Lisbon Half Marathon in March 2019, finishing fifth with a new personal best of 59:54. In December 2020, he set significant consecutive best in the event of 58:42, placing sixth at the Valencia Half Marathon. In 2021, he ran 59:35 and 59:02 half marathons in Lens, France (first) and Valencia (eighth) respectively.

Marathon Running

Kiptum didnt transition to marathon running from track running because of lack of tracks in his village. He didn't enter marathon running from a track career like Kipchoge. He just found himself training for marathons with other experienced runners from an early age. His first international race was in 2019 where he ran in the Singelloop Utrecht 10K road race. He finished second in teh race with a time of 28:17.

The Meteoric Rise

Kelvin Kiptum's rise to prominence as a marathoner was nothing short of meteoric. Kiptum has run three career marathons, all in the last 10 months, posting three of the six fastest times in history. Kiptum ran his debut marathon in Valencia, Spain, on 4 December 2022 with what was then the quickest closing half ever (60:15), he finished first with the current CR time of 2:01:53, becoming the third man in history to break 2:02. The then 23-year-old Kiptum also became the fastest debutant marathoner in history. Kiptum's winning time was by far the fastest marathon debut ever, breaking the course record by over a minute. This was the marathon that announced Kiptums amazing talents to the world.

His next race, was a debut at a World Marathon Major on 23 April 2023, where Kiptum triumphed decisively at the London Marathon. Falling 16 seconds short of the WR, Kiptum set the second-fastest mark in history with a time of 2:01:25. He finished that race in 2:01:25, just 16 seconds shy of Kipchoge’s world record. In June Kiptum was selected to represent Team Kenya in the 2023 World Athletics Championships marathon, but declined to focus on the Chicago Marathon. 

Kiptum's Historic Achievement

While Kelvin Kiptum's time of 2:00:35 is not yet officially recognized as a world record due to the race's eligibility criteria, it remains a defining moment in the history of marathon running. His performance showcased the relentless pursuit of excellence, the unwavering spirit of an athlete, and the boundless potential of the human body. Kiptum's feat at the Chicago Marathon signals a new milestone for the sport. It reignites the conversation about the possibility of an officially recognized sub-two-hour marathon and the boundaries of human endurance.

Africa Team