This archive report was first published on 11 October 2019.
On October 12, 2019, Eliud Kipchoge will attempt to become the first athlete to run 42 kilometers in under two hours in the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, Austria.
Haile Gebrselassie, a former world marathon record holder and two-time Olympic 10,000m champion, has expressed his confidence in Kipchoge's ability to achieve this feat.
Gebrselassie, 47, took to social media to wish Kipchoge well in the challenge, saying, "Hi my friend Kipchoge, I know you are in Vienna for the sub-2 hours. Believe me, you can do it. Go! Go! Go! Good luck," in a video message.
Up to 41 athletes are set to participate in the event, acting as pace setters for Kipchoge, who will run on a specially designed track in a Vienna park.
