Marathon · World Record

The detailed progression of the world record, and the athletes who set it.

Men · World Record

1:59:30

Sabastian Sawe

Kenya · London · 26 Apr 2026

Women · World Record

2:09:56

Ruth Chepngetich

Kenya · Chicago · 13 Oct 2024

Men's World Record Progression

Current1:59:30Sabastian Sawe· 2026

Women's World Record Progression

Current2:09:56Ruth Chepngetich· 2024

Record Timeline

Date	Athlete	Country	Time	Location
26 Apr 2026	Sabastian Sawe	Kenya	1:59:30	London
8 Oct 2023	Kelvin Kiptum	Kenya	2:00:35	Chicago
25 Sept 2022	Eliud Kipchoge	Kenya	2:01:09	Berlin
16 Sept 2018	Eliud Kipchoge	Kenya	2:01:39	Berlin
28 Sept 2014	Dennis Kimetto	Kenya	2:02:57	Berlin
29 Sept 2013	Wilson Kipsang	Kenya	2:03:23	Berlin
25 Sept 2011	Patrick Makau	Kenya	2:03:38	Berlin
28 Sept 2008	Haile Gebrselassie	Ethiopia	2:03:59	Berlin
30 Sept 2007	Haile Gebrselassie	Ethiopia	2:04:26	Berlin
28 Sept 2003	Paul Tergat	Kenya	2:04:55	Berlin
14 Apr 2002	Khalid Khannouchi	United States	2:05:38^WB	London
24 Oct 1999	Khalid Khannouchi	Morocco	2:05:42^WB	Chicago
20 Sept 1998	Ronaldo da Costa	Brazil	2:06:05^WB	Berlin
17 Apr 1988	Belayneh Densamo	Ethiopia	2:06:50^WB	Rotterdam
20 Apr 1985	Carlos Lopes	Portugal	2:07:12^WB	Rotterdam
21 Oct 1984	Steve Jones	Great Britain	2:08:05^WB	Chicago
6 Dec 1981	Rob de Castella	Australia	2:08:18^WB	Fukuoka
30 May 1969	Derek Clayton	Australia	2:08:34^WB	Antwerp
3 Dec 1967	Derek Clayton	Australia	2:09:36^WB	Fukuoka
12 Jun 1965	Morio Shigematsu	Japan	2:12:00^WB	Chiswick
21 Oct 1964	Abebe Bikila	Ethiopia	2:12:11^WB	Tokyo
13 Jun 1964	Basil Heatley	Great Britain	2:13:55^WB	Chiswick
15 Jun 1963	Leonard Edelen	United States	2:14:28^WB	Chiswick
17 Feb 1963	Toru Terasawa	Japan	2:15:15^WB	Beppu
10 Sept 1960	Abebe Bikila	Ethiopia	2:15:16^WB	Rome

WB = world best. World Athletics began officially ratifying marathon world records on 1 Jan 2004; earlier marks were world bests (first ratified: Tergat & Radcliffe, 2003).