Eliud Kipchoge from Kenya becomes the first person to run a marathon in less than two hours with a time of 1:59:40 in Vienna.

Eliud Kipchoge is a Kenyan long-distance runner who is widely considered one of the greatest marathon runners of all time. He was born on November 5, 1984, in Kapsisiywa, Kenya. Kipchoge is particularly known for his incredible performances in the marathon distance.

One of his most famous achievements was breaking the marathon world record in September 2018 at the Berlin Marathon, where he completed the race in 2 hours, 1 minute, and 39 seconds, setting a new world record at the time. He also won the Olympic gold medal in the men’s marathon at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

However, Kipchoge is perhaps best known for his remarkable feat on October 12, 2019, when he became the first person in history to run a marathon in under 2 hours. He accomplished this incredible achievement in Vienna, Austria, during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, finishing the marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 40 seconds. It’s worth noting that this achievement, while monumental, was not an official world record, as it was not run under normal race conditions, but rather as a carefully orchestrated event with optimal pacing, hydration, and other factors to help Kipchoge achieve the historic sub-2-hour time.