Jacob Kiplimo delivered a landmark performance at the London Marathon on April 26, 2026, finishing third in 2:00:28 to set a new Ugandan national record in the marathon.
The 25 year old was part of a high calibre lead group from the early stages, holding a steady pace as the race developed at near world record speed.
The field reached halfway in 1:00:29, with Kiplimo firmly among the frontrunners alongside eventual winner Sabastian Sawe and Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha.
Kiplimo stayed with the lead pack through 30km as the pace continued to intensify. A surge between 30km and 35km saw Sawe and Kejelcha break away, leaving Kiplimo to run alone in third. He maintained his rhythm and composure over the closing stages to secure a podium finish in one of the fastest marathon races ever recorded.
His time of 2:00:28 earned him the bronze medal and placed him inside the previous world record mark.
At the front, Sawe won in 1:59:30 to become the first man to officially break the two hour barrier in a marathon, while Kejelcha followed in 1:59:41, also under two hours.
