Ugandan long-distance sensation Jacob Kiplimo has rewritten the historical past books, changing into the primary particular person to run a half marathon in underneath 57 minutes.
The 24-year-old shocked the world on Sunday, February 16, 2025, by clocking a unprecedented 56 minutes and 42 seconds on the Barcelona Half Marathon, obliterating the earlier world file by a staggering 48 seconds.
The earlier file of 57:30, set by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha in October 2024 in Valencia, Spain, stood because the benchmark till Kiplimo’s breathtaking run.
His record-breaking efficiency represents essentially the most vital single-time enchancment on the boys’s world half-marathon file, cementing his place among the many best distance runners of all time.
Talking to BBC Sport after his historic achievement, Kiplimo expressed his shock and pleasure on the feat.
“I’m very enthusiastic about what I did right this moment. I needed to have an important race, however I didn’t anticipate to interrupt the world file,” stated the previous Olympic and World Championships bronze medallist.
Kiplimo’s technique was evident from the beginning, as he set a blistering tempo within the first two kilometers to shake off his rivals.
“I began very robust within the first two kilometres to get away from my rivals.”
Because the kilometres handed and I noticed that I used to be going at file tempo, I advised myself that I needed to keep that tempo it doesn’t matter what it took,” he added.
The younger Ugandan’s meteoric rise in distance operating has been nothing in need of outstanding.
From his dominance in junior competitions to his gold medals on the Commonwealth Video games and World Cross Nation Championships, Kiplimo has constantly demonstrated his prowess on the monitor and street.
His newest triumph solely solidifies his popularity as a generational expertise able to pushing the boundaries of human endurance.
With this record-breaking efficiency, Kiplimo has set a brand new benchmark in lengthy distance operating, and the world might be keenly watching to see what he accomplishes subsequent.
