RUN LIKE THE WIND
Who holds the fastest marathon time and world record?
Plus what the record-breaking time is
THE marathon has been a long-standing means of showing the world an athlete's level of endurance, speed and mental strength.
Before 1972, only men were allowed to run marathons. Now all genders and abilities are welcome to show what they are capable of.
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Who holds the fastest marathon time and world record?
The world record for the men's marathon belongs to Kelvin Kiptum.
He ran the Chicago Marathon in a time of 2:00:35 on October 8, 2023.
He took the world record from fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge.
Kipchoge's time was 2:01:39, set in the 2018 Berlin marathon.
Read more on marathons
However, Kipchoge is the only athlete to have run the marathon UNDER two hours - but his time could not be considered a world record.
This is because it was not a competitive race run under IAAF guidelines.
The athlete was helped by a team of 42 rotating pacemakers, and water was given to him by his coaches from a car.
His phenomenal finishing time was 1:59:40 - making it the fastest ever run by a male.
A marathon is run over 26.2 miles - which is 42km.
There are a number of marathons worldwide that bring competitors in their droves. These are:
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Who is Kelvin Kiptum?
Kelvin Kiptum was a Kenyan long-distance runner, who tragically died on February 11, 2024.
The marathon world record holder passed away in a car crash along with his coach Gervais Hakizimana.
As of 2024 he has run three of the seven fastest marathons in history and was ranked first among the world's men's marathon runners.
Kiptum had a humble upbringing and as a young boy he herded his family's cattle and began following other barefoot runners along the forest trails.
He started training around 2013 when he was 13 years-old.
Kelvin Kiptum wins London Marathon with second fastest ever time
Sebastian Coe paid tribute to the record holder saying: "On behalf of all World Athletics, we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, team mates and the Kenyan nation.
"It was only earlier this week in Chicago, the place where Kelvin set his extraordinary marathon world record, that I was able to officially ratify his historic time.
"An incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly."
Former marathon world record holder Kipchoge said: "I am deeply saddened by the tragic passing of the Marathon World record holder and rising star Kelvin Kiptum.
"An athlete who had a whole life ahead of him to achieve incredible greatness.
"I offer my deepest condolences to his young family. May God comfort you during this trying time."
Kiptum was buried at his farm in Naiberi.
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What is the fastest London Marathon time?
Kiptum also holds the record of the fastest time to run the London Marathon with a time of 2:01:25.
He achieved this in 2023.
Who holds the female fastest marathon time?
Ethiopian Tigist Assefa holds the women's world marathon record with a time of 2:11:53.
She ran this at the Berlin Marathon in September 2023.
The second fastest women's time is 2:13:44 held by Sifan Hassan - who won the London Marathon in 2023 - from the Netherlands.
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British distance running legend Paula Radcliffe's 2003 London marathon time remains in the top six fastest marathon times at 2:15:25.
The first women's Olympic marathon happened in Los Angeles in 1984.
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