This archive report was first published on 12 October 2019.
Eliud Kipchoge Breaks Two-Hour Barrier in Vienna ¶
On October 12, 2019, Kenyan marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge made history by completing the 42 km INEOS 1:59 Challenge in under two hours in Vienna, Austria. However, his achievement will not be recognized as the official world record due to non-compliance with International Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF) rules.
According to IAAF, a race must meet certain criteria, including being sanctioned by the IAAF or the Athletics Federation of the host country, having pacemakers that do not rotate in and out of the race, and having anti-doping controls. The INEOS 1:59 Challenge failed to meet these requirements.
During the challenge, Kipchoge was given eight-prepared drinks, energy, and caffeine gels after every five kilometers, breaking one of the rules. Additionally, the race was not sanctioned by IAAF, and pacemakers rotated in and out of the race.
Despite these irregularities, Kipchoge's achievement is a remarkable feat that showcases his endurance and determination. His time of 1:59:40 hours is a testament to his hard work and dedication to his craft.
It is worth noting that Kipchoge had previously set the marathon world record of 2:01:39 hours on September 16, 2018, at the 2018 Berlin Marathon.
