In just his second-ever marathon, Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo stunned the running world with a sensational victory at the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, clocking an unofficial time of 2:02:21 narrowly missing the world record by mere seconds.
Kiplimo, already a global sensation and the current world record holder in the half marathon, came within a heartbeat of eclipsing the marathon world record set in Chicago in 2023 by the late Kenyan great Kelvin Kiptum.
“It’s a big achievement to me. I’m happy about it, ” Kiplimo said at the finish line, his calm demeanor belying the historic performance he had just delivered.
At just 24 years old, Kiplimo is carving out one of the most impressive distance-running resumes of his generation. His Chicago triumph builds on a remarkable year: earlier in 2025, he made his marathon debut at the London Marathon, where he finished a close second, just 10 seconds behind Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe, while setting a new Ugandan national record.
His momentum began in February when he shattered the half marathon world record, blazing through the distance in 56:42.
Kiplimo’s rise to marathon elite status comes atop a decorated career on the track and cross country. He’s a two-time World Cross Country Champion, an Olympic bronze medalist in the 10,000 meters, and a World and Commonwealth gold medalist in both the 10,000 and 5,000 meters.
Now, with a major marathon title under his belt and the world record within striking distance, Kiplimo has his sights set on a longer future at the 26.2-mile distance.
“I plan to continue running the marathon,” he said, adding that he hopes to return to Chicago in 2026 to defend his title — and perhaps, chase that elusive world record once more.