Eliud Kipchoge Admits His Marathon Record Is Under Threat As He Identifies Successor

• Eliud Kipchoge has named Kelvin Kiptum as the man to take marathon running to the next level
• Kiptum recently won the London Marathon coming agonizingly close to breaking Kipchoge's world record
• Kipchoge is the greatest marathoner in history but is alive to the fact that someone else might soon take over

Eliud Kipchoge has tipped Kelvin Kiptum to break the marathon records he has set and possibly become the first man to run under two hours.

Kiptum took the world by surprise in April by shattering Kipchoge's course record at the London marathon. It was only his second-ever race, yet he managed to set the second-fastest time in history.

Kipchoge remains the most decorated marathoner in history and holds the current world record of 2 hours, 1 minute and 9 seconds. Kiptum was just 18 seconds away from eclipsing Kipchoge's record in London.

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In light of recent events, Kipchoge has now backed Kiptum to even go a step further and run a marathon in under two hours. Kipchoge is the only man to have run a sub-two marathon race, but it was under special conditions and thus not recognised as a world record but remains a huge fete nonetheless.

"I always say records are meant to be broken and I hope Kiptum does that soon. He is a man with a big heart. I have shown people the way, I have broken the world record twice, I have run under two hours, that's a sign that I need people to run," said the two-time Olympics winner, as quoted by Standard Sports.

"Kiptum has built something that will always keep him consistent towards his dream. I am sure if not Kiptum or myself, there will be another athlete to run under two hours."

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Kipchoge was speaking during the unveiling of the special Isuzu D-Max model dubbed the Eliud Kipchoge 1:59 Limited Special D-Max Edition by Isuzu East Africa on Friday.

Why Kipchoge's world record is under threat

Previously, Sports Brief reported that if the 2023 London Marathon is anything to go by, then Kipchoge's world record of 2:01:09 might be under threat sooner than we expected.

Kelvin Kiptum blitzed through an experienced field on April 23 to win the London Marathon at 2:01:26, which is just 18 seconds more than Kipchoge's world record.

Kiptum's major introduction to the marathon world sets up an interesting prospect, especially with the Berlin Marathon this year up for grabs. The Berlin Marathon has proven to be a positive hunting ground for world records, with 12 world records (men and women) having been set in the German capital, including Kipchoge's.