UNBELIEVABLE: Runner Falls at Start, Still Wins Boston Marathon in HISTORIC Comeback!
What's the Big Deal??
- John Korir literally FELL FACE FIRST at the start, then won in 2:04:45! 🏃♂️💥
- Women's course record OBLITERATED by 2.5 minutes (Sharon Lokedi: 2:17:22)
- FIRST time brothers have won Boston (John and Wesley Korir make history!)
- 8th Boston win for wheelchair legend Marcel Hug (1:21:34)
Intro
I've seen a lot of wild things in marathon running, but yesterday's 129th Boston Marathon takes the cake, eats it, and then runs a sub-5-minute mile for dessert. Picture this: the gun goes off, elite runners surge forward, and Kenya's John Korir immediately face-plants, slides across the pavement like he's stealing home base, and then... WINS THE WHOLE DANG THING! This is the greatest comeback story in marathon history, and it's not even close.
The Fall That Should've Ended It All
Let's set the scene: the 2025 Boston Marathon starts with perfect weather conditions, elite athletes jostling for position, and then WHAM! Within seconds of the gun, John Korir trips, falls hard, and literally SLIDES across the pavement. In most cases, this is where the story ends - career over, dreams shattered, time to catch an early flight home.
But Korir? This absolute madman gets up, somehow avoids getting trampled by the stampede of elite runners behind him, and proceeds to run what might be the greatest second-half marathon ever witnessed by human eyes.
The Comeback for the Ages
First Half: Korir crosses halfway in 1:01:52, already making up ground after his fall
Heartbreak Hill: Runs a MIND-BLOWING 4:42 mile UPHILL (adjusted to about 4:20 on flat ground!)
Mile 22: Drops a casual 4:24 mile like it's nothing
The Finish: Wins in 2:04:45, earning $150,000 and eternal legend status
For context, his two-mile split covering Heartbreak Hill and mile 22 was 9:04 - that's adjusted to about 8:44 on flat ground. This man was literally flying after face-planting at the start!
Records Shattered Left and Right
While Korir's comeback stole the show, the 2025 Boston Marathon was a record-breaking bonanza:
- 5 men broke 2:06 (one of the fastest races EVER)
- 3 women broke 2:20 (insane depth!)
- Sharon Lokedi DESTROYED the women's course record with 2:17:22
- Marcel Hug won his 8th wheelchair title (1:21:34)
- Susannah Scaroni took her 2nd women's wheelchair title (1:35:20)
The Women's Race Was FIRE 🔥
Sharon Lokedi wasn't just content with winning - she ANNIHILATED the course record by 2.5 minutes! The battle with two-time defending champion Hellen Obiri was epic until Lokedi pulled away in Kenmore Square. This was Lokedi's first Boston title, and what a way to announce yourself to the world!
Family History Made
Let's talk about something that's NEVER happened in Boston Marathon history: brothers winning the race. John Korir is the younger brother of 2012 champion Wesley Korir, making them the first sibling duo to ever win Boston. Talk about keeping it in the family!
Is Korir the New Marathon GOAT?
After Kelvin Kiptum's tragic passing and Eliud Kipchoge's recent struggles, the marathon world has been looking for its next superstar. Could it be Korir? Consider this:
- Won Chicago 2024 in 2:02:44
- Just dominated Boston after FALLING at the start
- Only 28 years old (prime marathon age)
- His coach says they're considering going for 'the big one' (world record!)
The Tech Angle
Some are wondering if new technology influenced these incredible performances. While we can't say for sure, what IS certain is that perfect weather conditions, steady pacing, and absolutely elite competition created the perfect storm for fast times.
What's Next?
Korir's coach is playing coy about future plans, but dropped a bombshell: they might go after Kiptum's world record of 2:00:35. To even consider this, you need to be in the absolute peak of fitness, have perfect pacers, and catch lightning in a bottle. But after what we saw yesterday? Nothing seems impossible for this guy.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 Boston Marathon will go down in history for so many reasons, but John Korir's fall-and-win performance stands above them all. In a sport where milliseconds matter, this man lost precious seconds lying on the ground, got up, and still won one of the most competitive marathons ever run.
From slide-tackling the pavement to slide-tackling the finish line tape, John Korir just gave us a masterclass in mental toughness, physical excellence, and pure, unadulterated grit. If this doesn't make you believe in the impossible, nothing will.
The marathon world has been put on notice: John Korir isn't just here to play - he's here to rewrite history, one face-plant at a time.