Celebrations in Nairobi as Eliud Kipchoge Breaks the Two-Hour Marathon Barrier

Supporters of Kenyan marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge celebrated across the country on October 12, after the 34-year-old made history by becoming the first person to run a marathon in under two hours, crossing the line with a time of 1:59:40.

Kipchoge held the previous marathon record of 2:01:39, which he set at the 2018 Berlin Marathon.

The BBC reported that his 1:59:40.2 time at the Ineos 1:59 Challenge in Vienna would not be counted as an official marathon record as it wasn’t achieved in an open race, and Kipchoge used a rotating team of pacesetters.

Footage seen here shows scenes in a Nairobi restaurant as Kipchoge approached and then crossed the finish line. Credit: Nimo Wairimu via Storyful