Jacob Kiplimo's Blunder That Saw Him Stripped Of Historic World Record

Ugandan legend Jacob Kiplimo has seen the World Athletics refuse to ratify his half marathon world record but what is the mistake that led to this?

Ugandan long-distance star Jacob Kiplimo has had his half-marathon world record invalidated due to a breach of World Athletics' technical rules, the governing body has confirmed.

The controversy stems from his performance at the Barcelona Half Marathon in February 2025, where he clocked an astonishing time of 56 minutes and 42 seconds.

This seemingly shattered the previous record of 57:30, set by Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha in Valencia in October 2024.

However, World Athletics informed Runner's World Spain that the record has been wiped from the books. The decision was made after it was determined that Kiplimo's time was "achieved with aids that violated the regulations."

Kiplimo’s Mistake During the Race

Reports indicate that the 25-year-old, who won a bronze medal in the 10,000 metres at the Paris 2024 Olympics, benefited from running too close to the lead vehicle. It is alleged that he took advantage of the car's slipstream, which reduced air resistance and provided an unfair advantage.

Lead vehicles are standard in road races, serving as a reference for athletes and carrying timing equipment, but strict rules govern the distance they must maintain from the runners.

According to Point 6.3 of World Athletics' Technical Rules, pacing by "any kind of technical device" is prohibited. The rule explicitly forbids assistance from non-competitors or devices, with exceptions only for personal heart rate or speed monitors that cannot be used for communication.

As a result of the ruling, Kejelcha's time of 57:30 has been reinstated as the official world record. Kiplimo, who also enjoyed a stellar 2025 by winning the Chicago Marathon and finishing second in London, will now have to set his sights on breaking the record again in the upcoming season.