Jacob Kiplimo Shatters Half-Marathon World Record, Becomes First to Break 56:42 Minute Barrier

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo made history on Sunday, becoming the first person to run a half-marathon in under 56:42 minutes. The 24-year-old clocked an astonishing 56 minutes, 42 seconds at the World Athletics Gold Label road race in Barcelona, smashing the previous record by a remarkable 48 seconds.

Kiplimo, a two-time world cross-country champion, reclaimed the record that he originally set in 2021, only to lose it to Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha in October 2024 (57:30). His latest achievement marks the greatest single improvement ever recorded in the men’s half-marathon world record.

Racing in near-perfect conditions—13°C (55°F) with no wind—Kiplimo set a blistering pace from the start. He also established a world best for 15km, covering the distance in just 39 minutes, 47 seconds on his way to the historic half-marathon finish.

Reflecting on his performance, Kiplimo expressed both excitement and surprise at his achievement.

“I am very excited about what I did today,” he said. “I started strong, I wanted to have a great race, but I didn’t expect to break the world record. As the kilometers passed and I saw that I was going at record pace, I told myself that I had to maintain that pace no matter what it took.”

Kiplimo’s record-breaking run cements his status as one of the greatest distance runners of his generation. With the Paris Olympics approaching, his performance sends a clear message that he will be a strong contender on the biggest stage in global athletics.