Who is Ruth Chepngetich? All about the new marathon world record holder who became 1st woman to break 2-hour-10-minute mark at Chicago Marathon 2024

Ruth Chepngetich is a Kenyan marathon runner who competes in various world marathon major events. She is a World Championships gold medalist and also recently competed at the 2024 Chicago Marathon held on October 13 (Sunday) where she won the event for the third time in her career.

The 30-year-old clocked an unofficial world record run time of 2:09:57 to beat an elite field consisting of prominent marathon runners such as the 2024 Tokyo Marathon winner Sutume Kebede. This impressive performance made her the first women marathon runner in the world to shatter the two-hour-ten-minute mark.

On this note, let's know more about this three-time Chicago Marathon winner, Ruth Chepngetich.

Ruth Chepngetich: Family and hometown

Ruth Chepngetich during the Istanbul Half Marathon event (Image via: Getty Images)

Chepngetich was born in Kericho located in the Rift Valley region of Kenya on August 8, 1994. She was born to Steven Langat and Milcah Langat and also has a younger sister and three younger brothers.

Ruth Chepngetich: Education

Chepng'etich during the 39th Istanbul Marathon in 2017 (Image via: Getty Images)

The Kenyan marathon runner completed her education at the Sigowet Primary School and the Momoniat Secondary School in Kericho where she competed in numerous school-level athletic tournaments.

Chepngetich didn't take admission to any University or college as she was engaged in making a career out of athletics.

"I simply told my parents that it was needless for them to spend money on me in college yet my desire and focus was to pursue a career in athletics" she said via Nation Africa.

Ruth Chepngetich: Other achievements in the marathon runner's career

Chepngetich (middle) after winning the 2019 edition of the Bogota Marathon (Image via: Getty Images)

Competing since her primary school days Chepngetich has navigated an impressive and decorated career and has brought numerous laurels to her country.

Besides winning the Chicago Marathon thrice in 2021, 2022, and 2024, Chepng'etich also clinched a bronze medal at the 2020 London Marathon clocking a run time of 2:22:05. She also won a silver medal as a part of the Kenyan team at the 2018 World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia.

Competing at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, the 30-year-old clocked a run time of 2:32:43 to clinch a gold medal. She finished ahead of the defending champion, Rose Chelimo who eventually grabbed the silver with a run time of 2:33:46.

Besides these prestigious victories, Chepngetich has also won numerous other marathon events such as the 2017 Istanbul Marathon, the 2019 Dubai Marathon, and the Nagoya Women's Marathon twice in 2022 and 2023.