Kelvin Kiptum reveals new targets after recent World Record

The current marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum has expressed his intentions to continue competing at the highest level for the next 10-15 years, aiming to accumulate further victories.

Despite acknowledging the challenges ahead, Kiptum believes that consistent training, covering extensive distances weekly, will be key to achieving his ambitious goals.

Kelvin Kiptum aware of competition

Recognizing the formidable competition, particularly after witnessing Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola’s remarkable 2 hours and 4 minutes performance in the New York Marathon, Kiptum remains undaunted.

He understands the inherent risks in the sport, such as the potential for injuries, but remains committed to his training routine.

‘My ambition is to run at the top of the marathon in the next ten or fifteen years and win as much as possible. But nothing guarantees that. My secret is training, running many kilometres a week. I’m not afraid of that, but you can always get injured. What then? Besides, I don’t walk alone. Last week, Tamirat Tola ( an Ethiopian runner, ed.) won the New York Marathon in 2 hours, 4 minutes and 58 seconds. The course there is very difficult, so that was a great time. You never know how good he will be in Paris,” Kiptum told Dutch Publication De Tijd.

As the only individual in history to run the marathon in under two hours and one minute in a record-eligible race, Kiptum has secured victories in three prestigious marathons, including two top-tier World Marathon Majors (WMM), between December 2022 and October 2023.

His times in these races rank among the six fastest in history, each setting a course record under 2:02 hours, making him the only man to break this barrier thrice.

Kiptum’s achievements

Kiptum’s achievements include the fastest marathon debut at the 2022 Valencia Marathon, becoming only the third man in history to break two hours and two minutes.

Four months later, at the 2023 London Marathon (WMM), he recorded the second-fastest marathon in history at 2:01:25, just 16 seconds outside the world record.

In his subsequent race at the Chicago Marathon (WMM) in October 2023, the 23-year-old broke the world record by an impressive 34 seconds, completing the marathon in two hours and 35 seconds.

Approaching the two-hour barrier, Kiptum was only two seconds short of becoming the first man to run the distance at an average speed greater than 21 km/h.