Here Are The Astonishing 'Superhuman' G.O.A.T Eliud Kipchoge Numbers

30th April 2019

Following another epic marathon victory in London, Kenyan Olympic champion continues breaking barriers in his sport on Sunday

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge poses for a photograph after winning the elite men's race of the 2019 London Marathon in central London on April 28, 2019. Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge won the men's London Marathon on Sunday in an unofficial time of 2 hours two minutes and 37 seconds -- the second fastest time for a marathon. PHOTO/AFP
Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge poses for a photograph after winning the elite men's race of the 2019 London Marathon in central London on April 28, 2019. Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge won the men's London Marathon on Sunday in an unofficial time of 2 hours two minutes and 37 seconds -- the second fastest time for a marathon. PHOTO/AFP
SUMMARY
  • On Monday, he posted on his Twitter handle that he had two more days to lap the acclaim in the British capital, inviting suggestions of where he should visit before returning home to plot his next big race
  • Kipchoge, the Olympic marathon champion and former world 5000m gold medallist, stopped the clock at 2:02:37 that until September last year, would have been world record as he obliterated his own London course record by 26 seconds
  • The fastest marathon ever by someone not named Kipchoge is 2:02:55

NAIROBI, Kenya- The greatness that is Eliud Kipchoge continued on Sunday at the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon where the world record holder came up with yet another performance that before him would have been considered superhuman.

On Monday, he posted on his Twitter handle that he had two more days to lap the acclaim in the British capital, inviting suggestions of where he should visit before returning home to plot his next big race.

RECOMMENDED READ: All Hail The Marathon King! Kipchoge Wins Record 4th London Title

Kipchoge, the Olympic marathon champion and former world 5000m gold medallist, stopped the clock at 2:02:37 that until September last year, would have been world record as he obliterated his own London course record by 26 seconds.

It was the second fastest official mark over the ultimate distance, only bettered by his staggering 2:01:39 world record notched at the 2018 Berlin Marathon.

Following that epic race in the German capital, the world went into overdrive in the praise of a man who has covered the most punishing distance in athletics faster than anyone else and the question was how he would respond in London.

RECOMMENDED READ: London Marathon: Kipchoge Is The Gap Between Mo Farah And The Crown

Going out yet again by himself, Kipchoge the reigning IAAF Male World Athlete of the Year used a crazy 4:26 burst of acceleration in the 40th kilometre to break free of Ethiopians Mosinet Geremew and Mule Wasihun to clinch his record fourth London Marathon crown to cement his already acknowledged Greatest of All Time Status.

To put his latest performance into perspective, respected American website, LetsRun.com published the mad statistics that attempt to explain the wonder that is Eliud Kipchoge.

RECOMMENDED READ: A Day In Life With: Eliud Kipchoge Part 1

Well his consistency is mind-boggling. Ten straight marathon wins in any era, let alone in this day and age of super competitive fields with huge prize purses, is mind-boggling.

Some Famous Elite Men’s Marathon Win Streaks, According To Wu Ming

Eliud Kipchoge – 10

Abebe Bikila – 6  (from his marathon debut in 1960, ending with his 5th at Boston 1963)

Frank Shorter – 6

Bill Rodgers – 6

Derek Clayton – 5 (from his marathon debut in 1965, ending with his 7th at Mexico City OG)

Haile Gebrselassie – 5

Toshihiko Seko – 5 (from his Fukuoka win in 1979, ending with his 14th at 1984 OG)

Jim Peters – 4

Rob de Castella – 4 (from his Fukuoka win in 1981, ending with his 5th a 1984 OG)

RECOMMENDED READ: A Day In Life With: Eliud Kipchoge Part 2

In terms of world ranking, Track and Field News has ranked Kipchoge number one in the world in the marathon for five straight years (not counting 2019); that’s easily an all-time record. 

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge celebrates on the podium during the winner's ceremony after winning the Berlin Marathon setting a new world record on September 16, 2018 in Berlin. PHOTO/AFP


The most before Kipchoge was three, achieved by four men, but none of them did it in the last 40 years: Veikko Karvonen 51-54-55, Abebe Bikila 60-61-64, Frank Shorter 71-72-73, Bill Rodgers 75-77-79.

In the last 40 years, the most anyone has been ranked number one in the world in the marathon is just twice and yet Kipchoge has done it five times consecutively.

RECOMMENDED READ: A Day In Life With: Eliud Kipchoge Part 3

Multiple TFN World number 1 Marathon Rankings in Last 40 Years

Waldemar Cierpinski – 1976 and 1980

Alberto Salazar – 1981 and 1982

Gezahegne Abera – 2000 and 2001

Juma Ikangaa – 1986 and 1989

Gezahegne Abera – 2000 and 2001

Sammy Wanjiru – 2008 and 2009

Eliud Kipchoge – 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018

The fastest marathon ever by someone not named Kipchoge is 2:02:55.

RECOMMENDED READ: It's Almost Eliud Time! Kipchoge Eyes Unrivaled Fourth London Marathon Crown