Kenyan marathon sensation, Kelvin Kiptum, accomplished the remarkable on Sunday by breaking Eliud Kipchoge's world marathon record with an astonishing time of 2:00:35 at the Chicago Marathon.
In recognition of this historic achievement, Kiptum is set to be handsomely rewarded by the Chicago Marathon organizers, sponsors, and the Kenyan Government.
Kiptum will earn a substantial cash prize of Ksh 14.9 million from the Bank of America, the main sponsor of the Chicago Marathon, for emerging as the victor.
Furthermore, the 23-year-old athlete will pocket an additional Ksh 7.4 million ($50,000) from Nike, the official event sponsor, for setting a new world record.
In addition to these rewards, Kelvin Kiptum is in line to receive significant financial support from the Kenyan government. In June, President William Ruto unveiled generous incentives for Kenyan sportsmen and women who excel on the global stage. During a State reception for Faith Kipyegon, who had recently broken two world records in one week (the 1,500M in Florence, Italy, and the 5,000M in Paris, France), Ruto announced that world record holders would be granted Ksh 5 million from the state for each record broken. This means that Kelvin Kiptum will receive an additional Ksh 5 million for his extraordinary performance on Sunday.
In total, Kiptum is poised to earn a remarkable Ksh 27.3 million from his victory at the Chicago Marathon. To break it down, he will receive Ksh 22.3 million from event organizers and sponsors, in addition to the Ksh 5 million from the Kenyan government.
Furthermore, Kiptum will be granted special privileges, including a diplomatic passport, honors, and recognition by the Kenyan government for his outstanding achievements.
With his triumph on Sunday, Kelvin Kiptum has officially secured his status as the fastest long-distance runner in the world.
Over the past ten months, Kiptum has participated in three marathons, achieving three of the six fastest times in history: 2:01:53 in Valencia, Spain, last December, followed by 2:01:25 in London in April.