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• Fri Apr 25 2025

Eliud Kipchoge believes Kelvin Kiptum's men's marathon world record won't stand for long

Kiptum clocked an incredible 2:00:35 at the 2023 Chicago Marathon before a car accident took his life in February 2024

Kipchoge will be competing at the London Marathon on Sunday, seeking to win it for the fifth time

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The late Kelvin Kiptum set the men's marathon world record in October 2023, and it has stood since. Eliud Kipchoge believes it won't last long as he prepares to compete in the 45th London Marathon.

Kelvin Kiptum shattered Eliud Kipchoge's world record in 2023. Photos by Michael Reaves and Luciano Lima.

Source: Getty Images

How Kelvin Kiptum shattered marathon world record?

Kelvin Kiptum had a brief career in athletics. He competed in three marathons in his career before a tragic incident took his life on February 11, 2024.

He made his debut at the Valencia Marathon in 2022 and won with a time of 2:01:53, the fastest debut marathon in history, per World Athletics. It is the seventh fastest marathon.

He then competed at the 2023 London Marathon and set a course record of 2:01:25, the third fastest marathon in history.

He then produced an iconic performance at the 2023 Chicago Marathon to set a world record of 2:00:35, taking 34 seconds off Kipchoge?s world record from 2022. He was the first man to run a marathon under 2:01.

Sadly, he died a week after World Athletics ratified his world record. Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, tragically died in a road accident.

Can Kelvin Kiptum's record be broken?

No one has come close to Kiptum's world record since. The fastest marathon since his record was set in December 2023 at the Valencia Marathon by Sisay Lemma.

Kelvin Kiptum was reportedly planning to become the first man to run an official marathon under two hours. Photo by Michael Reaves.

Source: Getty Images

The Ethiopian clocked 2:01:48 to win the race. Sebastian Sawe also clocked 2:02:05 in Valencia last year.

Kipchoge broke the world record in 2018 and 2022, but has struggled since; his last marathon win came in Berlin in 2023. He believes Kiptum's record can be broken.

?I think it will happen sometime soon,? he says. ?I have shown them the way and I am expecting many people to go under two hours," he told the Daily Mail.

"First you need the fitness. The moment you are fit enough then all other things can come in - the technology from nutrition and shoes - but what matters is training and becoming fit."

"I don?t believe in limits. That?s why I don?t want to say it can be this or this, but the world record is open. Anybody can break it."

Eighth of the top 10 fastest men in marathon history are from Kenya. A Kenyan woman, Ruth Chepngetich, holds the women's world record in the marathon.

Eliud Kipchoge backs Man United to bounce back

In a related story, TUKO.co.ke reported that Eliud Kipchoge backed Manchester United to make a comeback next season.

The Red Devils are having their worst season in the Premier League era and will likely miss out on European football next season.

Man United are partly owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who sponsored Kipchoge's marathon barrier-breaking attempt.

Source: TUKO.co.ke