2023 BMW Berlin-Marathon — Fastest Marathon Runners of All Time ft Kelvin Kiptum, Eliud Kipchoge [Image Source: Getty]

10 fastest male marathon runners of all time ft Kelvin Kiptum, Eliud Kipchoge

Modified Jul 21, 2024 06:40 GMT

Eliud Kipchoge is all set to represent Kenya in marathon for the fifth time at Paris Olympics. The former world record holder for men's marathon not only wishes to win a 3rd consecutive Olympic gold, but also extend his legacy to Los Angeles Olympics 2028, since Eliud Kipchoge is anything but ready to give up.

Interestingly, despite breaking Kipchoge's world record, fellow Kenyan runner Kelvin Kiptum won't be available for the Paris Olympics. The world record holder died in a tragic car accident at the bare age of 24 years old on 11 February 2024, making Eliud Kipchoge the fastest marathon runner alive. However, in his short career as a marathon runner, Kiptum created an irrefutable legacy.

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#10) Evans Chebet [Kenya]

Evans Chebet of Kenya in action at Boston Marathon [Image Sources: Getty]

Evans Chebet and Eliud Kipchoge are to marathon like Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt are to sprinting.

While Asafa Powell was at least lucky enough to qualify for the Olympics, Evans Chebet is one of the best marathon runners, who has never made it to the Olympics, despite clocking an impressive career-best timing of two hours, three minutes, and bagging two consecutive gold medals at the Boston Marathon.

#9) Dennis Kimetto [Kenya]

Dennis Kimetto after winning a marathon [Image Source: Getty]

Another great marathon runner who never qualified for the Olympics, Dennis Kimetto was the previous world record in this sport till 2018.

He had a career best timing of two hours, 2 minutes & 57 seconds, before Eliud Kipchoge broke his record in 2018.

Apart from that, Dennis Kimetto won three gold medals at Berlin Marathon, Tokyo Marathon and Chicago Marathon respectively.

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#8) Timothy Kiplagat [Kenya]

Timothy Kiplagat of Kenya in action at World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 [Image Source: Getty]

This Kenyan runner may not be as decorated as Eliud Kipchoge, but he does have a few records to his credit.

Kipalagat recorded a personal best of two hours, 2 minutes & 55 seconds at the Tokyo Marathon in 2024, which gave him the second position overall. Timothy Kiplagat had previously finished 14th overall at the 2023 World Championships..

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#7) Mosinet Geremew [Ethiopia]

Mosinet Geremew with the silver medal from 2022 World Championships [Image Source: Getty]

Mosinet Geremew gained recognition at the 2019 London Marathon, when he finished second behind Eliud Kipchoge, with a personal best of two hours, two minutes & 55 seconds.

Apart from that, this Ethiopian runner also has two silver medals from the World Championships to his credit. Geremew won a silver at the 2019 edition, and later, another silver medal in marathon at the 2022 World Championships held at Eugene, Oregon.

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#6) Birhanu Legese [Ethiopia]

Birhanu Legese [C] with other medalists at Tokyo Marathon [Image Source: Getty]

Though he won a silver medal at the Berlin Marathon in 2019, Birhanu Legese clocked a personal best of two hours, two minutes & 48 seconds. Apart from that, this Ethiopian runner has also won the Tokyo Marathon twice, in 2019 & 2020 respectively.

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#5) Bensun Kipruto [Kenya]

Benson Kipruto after winning Boston Marathon 2021 [Image Source: Getty]

This lucky marathon runner will get a chance to compete alongside Eliud Kipchoge at Paris Olympics. He has recently won the Tokyo Marathon in 2024, apart from winning the Boston Marathon in 2021 and Chicago Marathon in 2022 respectively.\

At ghe Chicago Marathon in 2023, Benson Kipruto finished second behind Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya, with a personal best of two hours, four minutes & two seconds. He improved his own timing at Tokyo with a personal best of two hours, two minutes & 16 seconds.

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#4) Sisay Lemma [Ethiopia]

Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia with the Boston Marathon Trophy [Image Source: Getty]

This Ethiopian marathon runner will be competing alongside the likes of Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele at Paris Olympics.

Sisay Lemma has a personal best of two hours, one minute & 48 seconds, becoming only the fourth man in the history of track and field to do so. He achieved this at the Boston Marathon held a couple of months ago, where he was ranked 1st overall.

#3) Kenenisa Bekele [Ethiopia]

Kenenisa Bekele after finishing the New York City Marathon [Image Source: Getty]

This runner is the literal definition of 'Never Give Up'. Almost a decade ago, this Ethiopian runner was well known for his prowess in the 5000 m and 10000 m events, winning four Olympic medals in both, including 3 gold and 1 silver medal. Even today, Kenenisa Bekele is the world record holder in the men's 5000 m.

However, after he finished outside the podium at London Olympics 2012, Kenenisa Bekele decided to switch to marathon. Alongside Eliud Kipchoge, Kenenisa Bekele is one of the oldest Olympians in the track and field events, with a personal best of two hours, one minute and 41 seconds, which he achieved at the Berlin Marathon in 2019.

#2) Eliud Kipchoge [Kenya]

Eliud Kipchoge after winning the gold medal at Tokyo Olympics [Image Source: Getty]

Eliud Kipchoge is to marathon what Wayne Gretzky is to hockey, Tom Brady is to the NFL, Lionel Messi is to soccer, and Roger Federer is to tennis. Like Kenenisa Bekele, Eliud Kipchoge began as a long distance runner, winning a bronze and a silver in the 5000 m event at the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympics respectively.

However, Eliud Kipchoge switched to marathon, and became one of the greatest exponents of this sport. He broke the world record in 2018 with a personal best of two hours, one minute & 39 seconds. Apart from that, the Kenyan also won gold medals at the Rio Olympics 2016, and the delayed Tokyo Olympics 2020.

#1) Kelvin Kiptum [Kenya]

Kelvin Kiptum after setting a world record at Chicago Marathon [Image Source: Getty]

Kelvin Kiptum had a professional career of just 2 years. But in those 2 years, he made a solid impact. At the Chicago Marathon, the Kenyann broke Eliud Kipchoge's year old world record by almost going under two hours, with a personal best of two hours and 35 seconds.

If not for the car accident that killed him in 2024, Kiptum would have been giving Eliud Kipchoge a run for his money at the Paris Olympics.