In a breathtaking display of endurance and athletic brilliance, Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo has once again etched his name into the record books by becoming the first person in history to break the 57-minute barrier in the half-marathon, clocking a sensational 56 minutes and 41 seconds in Barcelona on Sunday.
The 24-year-old long-distance phenom and two-time world cross-country champion reclaimed the world record, slashing 49 seconds off the previous mark of 57:30, set by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha in Valencia in October 2024.
“This is a moment I’ve worked hard for. To make history again feels incredible,” Kiplimo said after the race.
The time of 56:41 represents the largest single improvement ever on the men’s world half-marathon record, further cementing Kiplimo’s legacy as one of the greatest distance runners of all time.
- Event: Barcelona Half-Marathon
- Date: Sunday, June 30, 2025
- Winner: Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda)
- Time: 56:41 (New World Record)
- Previous Record: 57:30 by Yomif Kejelcha (Ethiopia), October 2024
- Record Margin: 49 seconds (largest improvement in record history)
Kiplimo originally set the half-marathon world record in 2021, only to lose it in 2024 to Kejelcha. His emphatic comeback not only reclaims the title but also redefines what’s physically possible in distance running.
With the Paris 2024 Olympic spirit still in the air and the 2025 athletics season underway, Kiplimo’s feat is expected to inspire a new era of high-speed long-distance competition on the global stage.
