Millions Jacob Kiplimo Pocketed from Historic London Marathon Performance

Uganda’s long distance great Jacob Kiplimo ran faster than the world record but he is still not the world record holder although his performance in London will earn him a significant sum.

Kiplimo was among three runners who clocked faster times than the late Kelvin Kiptum’s world record of 2:00:35 set in Chicago in October 2023 during Sunday’s London Marathon but those ahead of him did something never witnessed before.

Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe clocked an incredible 1:59:30, becoming the first man in the history of marathon running to dip under two hours in an official race, while Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha followed with 1:59:41 on his marathon debut.

That rendered Kiplimo’s 2:00:28 inconsequential, when it should have been a world record on another day, but he is still in for a good payday.

For finishing third, Kiplimo will pocket $22,500 (UGX83.6 million) being the prize money for the final podium position but it does not end there.

He is entitled to a share of a $150,000 (UGX557.8 million) bonus awarded to athletes who completed the race in under 2:02:00. Kiplimo, Sawe, Kejelcha and Kenya’s Amos Kipruto, who finished fourth in 2:01:39, will share this sum with his stake being $37,500 (UGX139.5 million). That will take his total in London to $60,000 (UGX223.1 million)

However, Kiplimo missed much more due to Sawe’s incredible feat as there is an extra $125,000 (UGX464.8 million) bonus for the world record (2:00:35) and $25,000 (UGX93 million) for the course record (2:01:25), all which he achieved, but only awarded to those who finish first and lower these marks.