Jacob Kiplimo doesn’t come from nowhere, as he became the youngest athlete to represent Uganda at a Summer Olympics edition: Rio de Janeiro, 2016! 15 years old! Fast forward, nine years later, the guy from the country with the grey crowned crane on the flag, finished the Barcelona Half Marathon, on 16th of February 2025, in 56 minutes and 42 seconds. A huge world record, which makes you rubs your eyes in amazement, because this is the only time in history, a human being went below the 57 minutes mark at the half-marathon. Of course, there will be some validating processes ongoing, but until then, we can consider this another barrier, which looks impossible to break.

Jacob Kiplimo, marathon under 2 hours?

Now, my question, since Jacob Kiplimo is born in 2000, going to be 25 only in November, what will it take for him to tackle a sub 2 hours marathon? Since the tragic passing of Kelvin Kiptum, bit more than one year ago in a car crush, we were wondering who can fulfill the mission he was on his way to accomplish it: first official marathon in under 2 hours? The Uganda’s star might be a fit for the role.  Very curious is that, after running two great halfs, under 58 minute in 2020 and 2021, he seemed to fade a bit, running no half-marathon at all in 2024. One thing is for sure, Uganda is more visible now on the world running map. Closer to Ethiopia and Kenya, for example.

Photo source: ghettoradio.co.ke