Eliud Kipchoge has become the first person ever to run a marathon in under two hours.
The Kenyan world-record holder crossed the line in Vienna with a time of 1:59.40.2 on Saturday morning, as crowds of supporters gathered on the streets and hundreds of thousands of people watched online.
The 34-year-old began at 7.15am BST on Saturday morning and raced alone, however was assisted by a team of 41 pacemakers, including former Olympic and world record holders, in his attempt to achieve the milestone.HISTORY! pic.twitter.com/qjLfofhL5s— Eliud Kipchoge (@EliudKipchoge) October 12, 2019 The time will not be an official world record but is nonetheless a historic moment in distance running.
The INEOS 1:59 Challenge was Kipchoge’s second shot at the record after missing out by 25 seconds in his first attempt in Monza two years ago.
Despite having endured 26.2 miles at a record-breaking pace, the athlete appeared to be in good spirits, waving to the crowds, as he approached the finish line where his wife Grace greeted him.
It was the first time she had ever seen him race in person.
After a feat of that scale he could have been forgiven for being unable to take another step, but Kipchoge was somehow able to keep running as he celebrated with the crowd and was embraced by his INEOS teammates.
Afterwards he told the BBC: “I am feeling good. After Roger Bannister in 1954 it took another 63 years, I tried and I did not get it.
“After 65 years, I am the first man! I want to inspire many people, that no human is limited.”
Kipchoge tore up the specially tailored course over 4.4 laps of the Prater Hauptallee, a park in central Vienna.
He was guided by lasers on the road from a support car in front and surrounded by seven pacemakers at any one time, allowing him to maintain a pace of 2min 50sec per kilometre.
He hit the hour-mark with 11 seconds to spare and with 500m to go burst clear of his support team to finally break the hallowed two-hour barrier.
Kipchoge, the four-time
London Marathon winner whose official world record time is 2:01.39, added: “Remember the 41 pacemakers are among the best athletes ever in the world.
Kipchoge, who has won the London Marathon four times and holds an official world record time of 2:01.39, added:
“I can say thank you to them, I appreciate them for accepting and together we made history on this one.
“We can make this world a beautiful world and a peaceful world. My wife and three children, I am happy for them to come and witness history.
“The positivity of sport, I want to make it a clean sport and an interesting sport.”Related... 2019 Nobel Peace Prize Winner Is Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed How To Get A London Marathon 2020 Space If You Missed Out In The Ballot Draw