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Eliud Kipchoge made history at the Ineos 1:59 challenge, becoming the first man to run a marathon in under two hours.
Kipchoge covered the 26.2 miles in 1:59:40, breaking his own record for the fastest marathon ever run.
While it does not count as an official world record due to the use of rotating pacemakers and a guide car, the Kenyan’s achievement is remarkable, averaging a pace of four and a half minutes per mile to breach the two hour barrier.
“I have tried to inspire many people, you can do it. It’s dedication, it was a hard run,” Kipchoge said after finishing.
Relive the Kenyan’s precedent setting run with our selection of 50 glorious pictures from Vienna.
Show all 70 1 /70Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge proudly holds the flag of Kenya after breaking the two-hour barrier
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates his incredible accomplishment
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge warms up before the start of the INEOS 1:59 Challenge
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge warms up before the start of the INEOS 1:59 Challenge
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge warms up before the start of the INEOS 1:59 Challenge
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge ahead of the challenge in Vienna
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge ahead of the challenge in Vienna
AFP via Getty Images
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge ahead of the challenge in Vienna
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt An advertising billboard erected in Nairobi
AFP via Getty Images
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge warms up before the start of the INEOS 1:59 Challenge
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge warms up before the start of the INEOS 1:59 Challenge
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge warms up before the start of the INEOS 1:59 Challenge
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt The starting line of the race
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge and his team of pacemakers
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge at the start line
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge at the start line
AFP via Getty Images
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge at the start of his sub two-hour attempt
EPA
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge at the start line
AFP via Getty Images
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge runs along the Prater Hauptallee in Vienna
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge runs along the Prater Hauptallee in Vienna
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge runs along the Prater Hauptallee in Vienna
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge runs along the Prater Hauptallee in Vienna
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge runs along the Prater Hauptallee in Vienna
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge runs along the Prater Hauptallee in Vienna
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge leaves the start line
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge runs along the Prater Hauptallee in Vienna
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge runs along the Prater Hauptallee in Vienna
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge runs along the Prater Hauptallee in Vienna
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge runs along the Prater Hauptallee in Vienna
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge runs during his attempt to bust the mythical two-hour barrier for the marathon
APA/AFP via Getty Images
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt The INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge in action next to his pacemakers
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge runs along the Prater Hauptallee in Vienna
AFP via Getty Images
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge in action next to his pacemakers during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt The Kenyan marathon world record holder in action next to his pacemakers
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge runs along the Prater Hauptallee in Vienna
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge runs along the Prater Hauptallee in Vienna
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt A fan poses with gadgets during the race
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Jim Ratcliffe, the founder of the INEOS Chemicals company, during the race
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge runs along the Prater Hauptallee in Vienna
EPA
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge runs along the Prater Hauptallee in Vienna
APA/AFP via Getty Images
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge runs along the Prater Hauptallee in Vienna
APA/AFP via Getty Images
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge runs along the Prater Hauptallee in Vienna
AP
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge runs along the Prater Hauptallee in Vienna
EPA
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates at the finish line
AP
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates at the finish line
AP
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates at the finish line
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates at the finish line
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates at the finish line
Reuters
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates at the finish line
APA/AFP via Getty Images
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates breaking the two-hour barrier in the marathon
AP
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates breaking the two-hour barrier in the marathon
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates breaking the two-hour barrier in the marathon
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates breaking the two-hour barrier in the marathon
REUTERS
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates breaking the two-hour barrier in the marathon
AFP via Getty Images
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates breaking the two-hour barrier in the marathon
AFP via Getty Images
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates breaking the two-hour barrier in the marathon
AFP via Getty Images
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates breaking the two-hour barrier in the marathon
EPA
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates breaking the two-hour barrier in the marathon
EPA
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates breaking the two-hour barrier in the marathon
AP
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates breaking the two-hour barrier in the marathon
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates breaking the two-hour barrier in the marathon
AP
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates breaking the two-hour barrier in the marathon
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's wife and children and Sir Jim Ratcliffe watch on
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates breaking the two-hour barrier in the marathon
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates breaking the two-hour barrier in the marathon
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Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge is embraced by Ineos owner Jim Ratcliffe
Getty
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge is embraced by Ineos owner Jim Ratcliffe
APA/AFP via Getty Images
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates breaking the two-hour barrier in the marathon
EPA
Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Eliud Kipchoge's sub two-hour marathon attempt Kipchoge celebrates breaking the two-hour barrier in the marathon
EPA
Kipchoge previously fell 25 seconds shy of the mark in Italy in 2017, but with an improved, larger group of pacemakers supporting him, and crowds lining the Vienna circuit giving him an extra boost, he was able to improve his time by nearly half-a-minute to break a barrier that once seemed impenetrable.
Kipchoge also holds the official marathon record – a time of 2:01:39 set at the Berlin Marathon last year.
Among the spectators were the 34-year-old’s wife and three children, and Kipchoge gave his thanks to his family at the finish.
“It means a lot to Kenya, running under two hours, together we can make a beautiful world.
“They (my wife and kids) have given me so much support, I’m happy they came here to witness history.”
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