Setting a marathon world record of 2:03:23 in Berlin on 29 September 2013 defined the mid-career peak of Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich. A Kenyan long-distance runner from Keiyo District, he established himself as a force in road athletics throughout the 2010s, securing podium finishes in major global marathons and holding the world record for one year.
Early Career and Rising Momentum
Born on 15 March 1982, Kipsang began his journey with the Kenya Police, eventually transitioning to international professional competition in 2007. His early road running career included a second-place finish at the Tilburg Ten Miles and a notable win in a road race in Hem. By 2008, he proved his consistency in the half-marathon, finishing one second behind Deriba Merga at the Delhi Half Marathon with a personal best of 59:16.
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Kipsang made his marathon debut in Paris in 2010, finishing third. He achieved his first major success later that year at the Frankfurt Marathon, setting a course record of 2:04:57. In 2011, he defended his Frankfurt title while narrowly missing a world record, finishing in 2:03:42. He won the 2012 London Marathon and the 2014 London Marathon, the latter in a course record time of 2:04:29. His victory at the 2014 New York City Marathon and the 2017 Tokyo Marathon further cemented his status in the circuit.
Olympic Achievement and Doping Ban
At the 2012 Summer Olympics held in London, Kipsang secured the bronze medal in the marathon. His competitive career faced a major disruption in 2020 when the Athletics Integrity Unit issued a four-year ban. This penalty resulted from four whereabouts failures occurring between April 2018 and May 2019, alongside findings that Kipsang had tampered with the investigation process by providing false evidence.
Fast facts
- Born: 15 March 1982, Keiyo District
- Nationality: Kenyan
- Marathon World Record: 2:03:23 (2013-2014)
- 2012 Olympic Result: Bronze medal
- Half Marathon Personal Best: 58:59
- 2020 Status: Four-year ban for whereabouts failures and tampering
- Notable Victories: London Marathon (2012, 2014), New York City Marathon (2014), Tokyo Marathon (2017)
Questions readers ask
What is Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich's fastest marathon time?
His fastest time is 2:03:13, achieved at the 2016 BMW Berlin Marathon.
Why was Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich banned from athletics?
He received a four-year ban in 2020 for four whereabouts failures and for providing false evidence to investigators.
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