Eliud Kipchoge smashes the marathon world record in Berlin

Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge - who is regarded as the greatest long-distance runner of all-time - broke the marathon world record today in Berlin.

Fellow Kenyan Dennis Kimetto held the previous best with a time of 2:02:57 set in Berlin in 2014, but 33-year-old Kipchoge shaved 78 seconds off that to finish in 2:01:39 in the German capital city.

It was a double for Kenya with Gladys Cherono winning the women’s race in 2:18:11. Cherono’s time was a new women’s course record for Berlin.

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Adding the new world record to his gold medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and three London Marathon wins, Kipchoge was overjoyed at the finish and sprinted after the line to celebrate his achievement.

“I lack words to describe this day,” he told The Guardian. “It was hard. I was prepared to run my own race early so I wasn’t surprised to be alone. I have trained so well for this race and have full trust in the programs of my coach.

“I am just so incredibly happy to have finally run the world record as I never stopped having belief in myself.”

Kipchoge’s time was originally recorded as 2:01:40 before it was adjusted by one second, CNN reports.

Twitter reaction to Kipchoge’s marathon record