On a cool Sunday in Lisbon, Jacob Kiplimo didn’t just run a race—he ran into history. The Ugandan long-distance star smashed the half marathon world record, crossing the finish line in 57:20, ten seconds faster than the mark set by Yomif Kejelcha three years ago.
The course was familiar territory: five years earlier, Kiplimo had claimed his first world record on the very same streets with a 57:31. But this time, with no pacemakers and the world watching, he paced himself like a chess master. The first 5km went by in 13:28, he settled into a measured rhythm in the middle, and then unleashed a surge in the final kilometres that left his rivals trailing and the record shattered.
“I’m so happy to break the world record,” Kiplimo said, barely catching his breath. “After 10km, I knew it was possible. I pushed hard in the last two kilometres, and it paid off.”
Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir (58:08) and Gilbert Kiprotich (58:59) completed the podium, but all eyes were on the Ugandan who once again proved that the half marathon belongs to him.
Kiplimo had thought he had already rewritten the record last year in Barcelona with a 56:42 run, but World Athletics ruled the conditions non-compliant. This time, though, there was no dispute—history had been made.
