Entebbe — Uganda’s long-distance star Jacob Kiplimo returned home on Wednesday morning following his record-breaking victory at the 2025 Chicago Marathon in the United States.
Kiplimo, who clocked an astonishing 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 23 seconds (2:02:23), not only clinched the top spot but also set a new national record (NR) and personal best (PB) — becoming the 7th fastest marathoner in history. Remarkably, this was only his second marathon.
At Entebbe International Airport, the champion was received by a jubilant delegation from the National Council of Sports (NCS) and Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF), led by Mr Chebet Milton, the Assistant General Secretary of NCS. The team congratulated Kiplimo for flying the Ugandan flag high on the global stage.
Kiplimo’s performance stunned fans and analysts alike as he outran a world-class field that included Kenya’s Amos Kipruto, who finished second in 2:03:54, and Alex Masai, also from Kenya, who came third with a personal best of 2:04:37.
The 24-year-old runner, who is also the reigning World Half Marathon Champion, continues to establish himself among the world’s elite marathoners and is widely seen as one of Uganda’s brightest medal prospects ahead of upcoming global competitions.
Fans, athletes, and officials took to social media to celebrate the champion, with the hashtag #KiplimoReturns trending as Ugandans expressed pride in his extraordinary achievement.
Jacob Kiplimo’s victory adds another golden chapter to Uganda’s athletics success story — inspiring a new generation of runners to chase greatness on the world stage.
Welcome back champion 🇺🇬🇺🇬 @jacobkiplimo2 pic.twitter.com/SXzCms1puc
— UGANDA ATHLETICS (@UgaAthletics2) October 15, 2025