Eliud Kipchoge made history in Vienna by running the first-ever sub-two-hour marathon in a time of 1hr 59min 40sec on Saturday. Assisted by 41 in-and-out pacemakers, seven at a time, and lasers to help him along.
The Kenyan has been chasing this dream for years. And while finally breaking the barrier many thought impossible is a phenomenal feat, it will not be ratified as an official world record due to assisted conditions and that it was not part of an open event.
For context, here’s a list of fastest ever official marathon times. It’s no surprise that Kipchoge tops that list.
Marathon world records: Official fastest times recorded
| Time | Athlete | Where | Date |
| 02:01:39 | Eliud Kipchoge | Berlin (GER) | 16-Sep-18 |
| 02:02:57 | Dennis Kimetto | Berlin (GER) | 28-Sep-14 |
| 02:03:23 | Wilson Kipsang | Berlin (GER) | 29-Sep-13 |
| 02:03:38 | Patrick Makau Musyoki | Berlin (GER) | 25-Sep-11 |
| 02:03:59 | Haile Gebrselassie | Berlin (GER) | 28-Sep-08 |
| 02:04:26 | Haile Gebrselassie | Berlin (GER) | 30-Sep-07 |
| 02:04:55 | Paul Tergat | Berlin (GER) | 28-Sep-03 |
| 02:05:38 | Khalid Khannouchi | London (GBR) | 14-Apr-02 |
Marathon history
Like Kipchoge’s previous attempt to break the two-hour barrier , this event was brand-sponsored.