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Eliud Kipchoge has broken the two-hour marathon barrier at the Ineos 1:59 challenge in Vienna.
The Kenyan ran 1:59:40 to complete the 26.2 mile distance in the fastest time in history.
Utilising a rotating group of pacemakers, thus making the time not an official world record, and wearing the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly shoe, Kipchoge became the first athlete to run the distance in under two hours.
“I’m feeling good, after Roger Bannister, it took 63 years, I have tried to inspire many people, you can do it. It’s dedication, it was a hard run,” he said immediately after making history.
“Remember, they’re among the best athletes in the world, Olympic champions, I can say, thank you to them, accepting to do the job.
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
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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 An advertising billboard erected in Nairobi
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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 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
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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
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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 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
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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
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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
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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
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
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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 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
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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
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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 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
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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
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
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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 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
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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
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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
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
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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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“It means a lot to Kenya, running under two hours, together we can make a beautiful world.”
He had previously pushed the mark close in a similar attempt at the Monza Formula One racetrack near MIlan in 2017.
Kipchoge ran 2:00:25 on that occasion, but added extra pacemakers and allowed fans to line the streets for this attempt.
The tweaks worked, with Kipchoge holding a consistent pace throughout the run, consistently tracking at about ten seconds below the two-hour barrier, bettering his previous mark to make history.
Eliud Kipchoge became the first athlete to run a marathon in less than two hours (REUTERS) Kipchoge is the holder of the official marathon World Record, a time of 2:01:39 set at the Berlin Marathon last year.
He has won eight World Marathon Majors, and took marathon gold in Rio at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Whereas Kipchoge lost steam in Italy and fell 25 seconds short despite a final kick, here he was on track right from the outset, aided by an all-star team of pacemakers and a pacing car.
And the Kenyan completed his remarkable achievement with a flourish, charging over the finish line while pointing at the clock, safe in the knowledge that the achievement was his.
Kipchoge praised all those who supported him through the race, and also his family, who were in the crowd to watch on as Kipchoge broke the two hour mark.
“They (my wife and kids) have given me so much support, I’m happy they came here to witness history,” Kipchoge said at the finish.
“The positivity of sport, I want it to be a clean and interesting sport, wake up early in the morning and run.
“It can be good for all.”
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