This archive report was first published on 14 October 2019.
Barack Obama Hails Eliud Kipchoge and Brigid Kosgei's Exceptional Performance in Marathons ¶
Former US President Barack Obama has praised Kenyan athletes Eliud Kipchoge and Brigid Kosgei for their exceptional performance in marathons. Kipchoge became the first human to complete a marathon in under two hours, while Kosgei broke the world record in the women's Chicago Marathon.
On October 12, Kipchoge achieved the historic feat in the INEOS Challenge in Vienna, Austria. He completed the marathon in under two hours, a milestone that has been recognized by the Guinness World Records.
On October 13, Kosgei broke the world record in the women's Chicago Marathon, finishing with a time of 2:14:04. This broke the previous record held by Paula Radcliffe since 2003.
Obama praised the athletes in a tweet, saying, "Yesterday, Eliud Kipchoge became the first human to complete a marathon in under two hours. Today, Brigid Kosgei broke the world record in the women's Chicago Marathon. Along with their success, they are also great examples of human endurance and resilience."
However, it's worth noting that Kipchoge's record was not recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) as a world record, but it was still a historic achievement.
