In a remarkable feat on Sunday, Ugandan athlete Jacob Kiplimo shattered the men’s half-marathon world record, achieving a groundbreaking time of 56 minutes and 41 seconds during a road race held in Barcelona. This achievement marks Kiplimo as the very first runner to complete the half-marathon distance in under 57 minutes, surpassing the previous record of 57 minutes and 30 seconds established by Ethiopian runner Yomif Kejelcha in Valencia the prior year.

Kiplimo’s extraordinary performance has been recognized by World Athletics as the largest single improvement to the men’s half-marathon record. On the day of the race, he enjoyed perfect weather conditions, with temperatures around 13 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit) and an absence of wind, which likely contributed to his historic time.

The 24-year-old distance runner has an impressive background as well; he won a bronze medal in the 10,000 meters event at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Kiplimo’s accomplishments continue to establish him as one of the premier athletes in his sport, and his record-setting race in Barcelona will no doubt be remembered in the annals of athletics history.