Eliud Kipchoge, despite his recent underperformance in the Boston Marathon, has consistently proven himself the greatest marathon runner of all time. He has achieved this through his four victories in the Berlin Marathon, where he has broken his own record by completing the race in two hours, one minute, and nine seconds.
Kipchoge's career has been defined by his remarkable ability to break records, and his famous quote, "no human is limited," encapsulates his philosophy. He has become an inspiration to many people around the world, both locally and internationally.
This article will focus on the various occasions when Kipchoge has broken records throughout his athletics career.
Ineos 1:59 Challenge
The Ineos challenge held in Vienna, Austria, was not a race but rather an attempt by Eliud Kipchoge to break the record of running a marathon in under two hours. Sponsored by Ineos, Kipchoge achieved this remarkable feat, setting a new personal best time of one hour, fifty-nine minutes, and forty seconds.
However, despite Kipchoge's incredible achievement, the World Athletics Committee did not recognize the record for various reasons.
There were several reasons why Eliud Kipchoge's remarkable achievement in the Ineos challenge was not recognized as a world record. First, Kipchoge was supported by a team of elite pacemakers who rotated to guide him to maintain his pace. They also acted as a shield, protecting him from wind resistance.
Additionally, the Ineos challenge was not a competitive race, and Kipchoge had no competitors to run against. He also had the assistance of a car that helped him maintain his pace throughout the race.
These factors were estimated to have added around four minutes to Kipchoge's final time, and as a result, the record was not recognized as an official world record.
Berlin Marathon
Eliud Kipchoge faced a significant challenge during his first Berlin Marathon in September 2015 when his shoe became loose in the middle of the race. However, he still managed to win the race, defeating the then-world record holder.
Despite his victory, Kipchoge's attempt to break the two-hour barrier in the marathon during the race was unsuccessful. He finished the race in two hours and four minutes, falling short of his target.
London Marathon
In April 2015, the London Marathon witnessed yet another remarkable performance by Eliud Kipchoge. The event was a showdown between Kipchoge and other top marathon runners, such as Wilson Kipsang and Dennis Kimetto, who held the world record at the time. Dubbed the "clash of the champions," the race was highly anticipated.
Despite the stiff competition, Kipchoge proved to be the best on the day, winning the race in a time of two hours, four minutes, and forty-two seconds, cementing his position among the world's best marathon runners.
Chicago Marathon
The following year, Eliud Kipchoge made his debut appearance in the United States at the Chicago Marathon. He competed against Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele in what turned out to be a closely contested race. However, at the thirty-second-kilometre mark, Bekele suffered a fall, and Kipchoge capitalized on the opportunity to take the lead, eventually winning the race in an impressive time of two hours, four minutes, and eleven seconds.
Hamburg Marathon
After transitioning from the 5000 meters race, Eliud Kipchoge ran his first marathon in Hamburg, Germany, in 2013. He emerged victorious, finishing the race in two hours, five minutes, and thirty seconds.