Eliud Kipchoge makes history as first person to run sub two-hour marathon - in pictures

World record holder completed the Ineos 1:59 Challenge in one hour, 59 minutes and 40 seconds

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, the marathon world record holder, warms up before the start of his attempt to run a marathon in under two hours in Vienna, Austria. REUTERS

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, the marathon world record holder, prepares for the start of his attempt to run a marathon in under two hours in Vienna, Austria. REUTERS

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, the marathon world record holder, runs during his attempt to run a marathon in under two hours in Vienna, Austria. REUTERS

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, the marathon world record holder, runs during his attempt to run a marathon in under two hours in Vienna, Austria. REUTERS

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, the marathon world record holder, runs during his attempt to run a marathon in under two hours in Vienna, Austria. REUTERS

Eliud Kipchoge (in white), Kenyan marathon world record holder, in action next to his pacemakers during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, Austria. Kipchoge attempts to beat his own record becoming the first person to run a marathon in under two hours. EPA

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, the marathon world record holder, runs during his attempt to run a marathon in under two hours in Vienna, Austria. REUTERS

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, the marathon world record holder, runs during his attempt to run a marathon in under two hours in Vienna, Austria. REUTERS

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge (white jersey) runs during his attempt to bust the mythical two-hour barrier for the marathon in Vienna. Kipchoge holds the men's world record for the distance with a time of 2hr 01min 39sec, which he set in the flat Berlin marathon on September 16, 2018. He tried in May 2017 to break the two-hour barrier, running on the Monza National Autodrome racing circuit in Italy, failing narrowly in 2hr 00min 25sec. Austria. AFP

Eliud Kipchoge (L, in white), Kenyan marathon world record holder, in action next to his pacemakers during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, Austria. Kipchoge attempts to beat his own record becoming the first human to run a marathon in under two hours. EPA

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, the marathon world record holder, runs during his attempt to run a marathon in under two hours in Vienna, Austria. REUTERS

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, the marathon world record holder, crosses the finish line during his attempt to run a marathon in under two hours in Vienna, Austria. REUTERS

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, the marathon world record holder, crosses the finish line during his attempt to run a marathon in under two hours in Vienna, Austria. REUTERS

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, the marathon world record holder, crosses the finish line during his attempt to run a marathon in under two hours in Vienna, Austria. REUTERS

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, the marathon world record holder, celebrates after crossing the finish line during his attempt to run a marathon in under two hours in Vienna, Austria. REUTERS

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge said he has proved "no human is limited" after becoming the first person to run a marathon in under two hours on Saturday.

With an unofficial time of one hour, 59 minutes, 40.2 seconds, the Olympic champion succeeded in his historic bid in the specially-arranged Ineos 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, Austria.

Kipchoge, 34, already holds the men's world record for the distance with a time of 2:01:39, which he set in the flat Berlin marathon on September 16, 2018.

But accompanied by a posse of 41 pacemakers and a car in front of them setting the pace, Kipchoge bested that mark, making good on a failed attempt two years ago in Monza, Italy.

"I am the first man - I want to inspire many people, that no human is limited," said the history-making Kipchoge. "We can make this world a beautiful world and a peaceful world. My wife and three children, I am happy for them to come and witness history."

Maintaining a regular pace at around 2:50 minutes per kilometre, he passed the finish line gesturing and smiling. He had been 11 seconds in advance at mid-race as fans lining the course, many waving Kenyan flags, loudly cheered him on.

Kipchoge told reporters earlier this week that his attempt in the Austrian capital was about "making history in this world, like the first man to go to the moon".

"I just have to make that click in people's minds that no human is limited," he had said.

Because of the way the run was set up and paced the International Association of Athletics Federations will not validate the time as a world record. The running surface had been partly retarred and readied with other features such as a banked corner that could save time and avoid injury.

Pacemakers took turns to support him throughout the 42.195km race. They included 1,500-metre Olympic champion Matthew Centrowitz and former world champion Bernard Lagat.

The course included a 4.3km-long straight alley, which the Kenyan ran up and down several times amid dry but foggy weather.

"The course is extremely good. I'm happy with the course," Kipchoge, whose family has accompanied him to Vienna, said earlier this week.

Organisers only allowed their own cameras to film the run itself. Throngs of fans cheered on Kipchoge whenever he passed by.

Kipchoge already tried in May 2017 to break the two-hour barrier, running on the Monza National Autodrome racing circuit in Italy, failing narrowly in 2:00:25. But this time he said before the race that he was mentally stronger and more confident.

The course had been prepared so that it should take Kipchoge just about 4.5 seconds more than on a computer-simulated completely flat and straight path, according to analysis by sports experts at Vienna University.

In total, he only had to descend 26 metres in altitude and climb 12 metres, the experts said.

The founder of the main sponsors, Ineos, British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, is taking a personal interest in the challenge and himself competes in Ironman triathlons.

The world marathon record has, for the past 16 years, been contested uniquely between athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia. The two nations are also fierce rivals for distance medals on the track.

Kipchoge's record was almost beaten last month in the Berlin marathon by Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele, who ran 2:01.41, just two seconds short of the official world mark.