Kiplimo’s victory further solidifies his status as one of the sport’s greats and marks another milestone in his career as the current half-marathon world record holder (56:42) and Uganda’s national marathon record holder.

For Kiplimo, preparation was strategic, precise and deeply tied to technology. He consistently monitored his running and sleep data using Galaxy Watch8, which helped him maintain peak condition in the weeks leading up to the event.

The Galaxy Watch8 series offers powerful features designed for runners of all levels, from beginners to elite athletes like Kiplimo. With Running Coach, users can analyze performance data after a 12-minute run, get a tailored assessment of their running skills on a 10 level-scale, and receive a customized training program.

During each run, Galaxy Watch8 provides real-time pace feedback with detailed metrics, while even offering motivational messages — making it a valuable partner for any runner.

While running is the foundation of any marathon training plan, Kiplimo emphasized the importance of recovery. For recovery and improved balance, Galaxy Watch8 delivers personalized sleep coaching based on individual sleep patterns. The Bedtime Guidance feature, introduced with the Galaxy Watch8 series, analyzes the user’s sleep patterns over three days to suggest their ideal bedtime and establish consistent sleep routines for better rest and recovery.

“When anxiety kicks in before the big race, it is critical that I reduce my training and conserve my energy through sleep – a crucial part of every runner’s training journey,” said Kiplimo. “Sleep helps my body lock in all the hard work I’ve done.”

¹ First held in 1977, the Chicago Marathon is one of the seven World Marathon Majors, attracting elite runners worldwide.

“Samsung has championed the Olympic spirit — and has been enabling meaningful connection — since its very first Olympic Games in 1988,” said Stephanie Choi, EVP & Head of Marketing of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “For Paris 2024, Samsung’s latest innovation and technology will support the staging of the Games and will help deliver on its promise to be the most open Games ever. The brand’s ‘Open always wins’ message reflects this alignment of values and will be featured throughout Samsung’s Paris 2024 programming.”

Team Samsung Galaxy will serve as the primary voices for ‘Open always wins,’ and by sharing their journeys, they will demonstrate how Samsung is helping athletes and fans open up to new opportunities through its technologies. Each athlete on Team Samsung Galaxy, which includes British skateboarding star and longstanding brand ambassador Sky Brown, knows firsthand that an open mindset drives you to victory, in sport and beyond.

“Samsung has been elevating the Olympic and Paralympic Games experience — and supporting athletes — for nearly four decades,” said Tony Estanguet, president of Paris 2024. “As we look to create a ‘Games Wide Open,’ we are confident that Samsung’s deep-rooted belief in openness and its innovative mobile technology, will play a central role at Paris 2024. Together, we will proudly engage, inspire and enhance the Olympic and Paralympic Games for athletes and fans alike.”

Team Samsung Galaxy for Paris 2024

For Paris 2024, Team Samsung Galaxy is made up of over 25 Olympians and Paralympians — including British skateboarder Sky Brown, Spanish badminton champion Carolina Marin, French skateboarding hero Aurélien Giraud, American B-girl¹ Grace “Sunny” Choi, German Para sprinter Johannes Floors and South Korean football icon Son Heung-min — with more to be named. It features several athletes from some of the Games’ newest sports — skateboarding, surfing and breaking — which, like Samsung, share core values of open-mindedness and self-expression.

“We are proud to support this incredible team of athletes and welcome them to the Samsung family,” added Stephanie Choi. “Not only are they inspiring humans on and off the field of play, but they’re also making an impact on their communities and on the next generation. Together with Team Samsung Galaxy, we are thrilled to encourage fans around the world to open up to new possibilities in their everyday lives.”

The team also includes 15-year-old skateboarder Rayssa Leal, who became the youngest Brazilian ever to participate in the Olympic Games when she won silver at Tokyo 2020; Kim Ye-ri, the “limitless” South Korean B-girl who overcame a hearing impairment to rise to the top of her sport; Jagger Eaton (U.S.), who champions skateboarding’s culture of open-mindedness; surfers Johanne Defay (France), John John Florence (U.S.) and Jack Robinson (Australia), who are not only fierce competitors on the waves, but also fierce ocean and climate advocates; and Paralympians Madison de Rozario (Australia) and Ugo Didier (France) who use their platforms to drive accessibility and inclusivity in sport and society.

Madison de Rozario said: “Samsung’s been a part of the Paralympics for so long, and one of the highest privileges of being a Paralympian is getting to partner with a brand that feels so strongly about the Paralympic movement. Tech is playing an enormous role right now, particularly in Paralympic and women’s sports. Being able to engage with fans directly has progressed the movement far quicker than anything else.”

Johanne Defay said: “I am super happy to be part of Team Samsung Galaxy. ‘Open always wins’ reminds me of the open-mindedness one can acquire through competition – sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, which challenges many aspects of ourselves. We ponder a lot on how we can evolve, and I think that’s a form of open-mindedness.”

Jagger Eaton said: “To be a part of Team Samsung Galaxy means the world to me. From somebody who approaches skateboarding in a diverse way, to be a part of a brand that does the same is amazing. ‘Open always wins,’ to me, means inclusion of everybody. I think that the Olympic Games is not only an amazing time for everybody to get together and cheer for their country, but an opportunity to do what I love on the world stage. For me, I always stay open in skateboarding because I believe it’s one of the most open-minded activities that you can do.”

More information on how ‘Open always wins’ will come to life, the many ways Samsung will enhance the Olympic and Paralympic Games experience at Paris 2024, and the additional athletes of Team Samsung Galaxy, will be announced as the Road to the Games continues. Team Samsung Galaxy’s full roster has been included below.

About Samsung’s Involvement in the Olympic Games
Samsung has been a Worldwide Olympic Partner since the Olympic Winter Games Nagano 1998. For over 25 years, athletes and fans have trusted Samsung’s transformative mobile technology to share the Olympic spirit globally and continue to shape the digital future of the Olympic Games for Paris 2024 and beyond. The company’s commitment to the Olympic Movement soon faces its fourth decade of partnership and extends through Los Angeles 2028. Samsung’s purposeful innovations in the wireless communications and computing equipment category, including equipment that features artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality and 5G will change the way the world experiences the Olympic Games.

About Samsung’s Involvement in the Paralympic Games
Samsung is a Worldwide Partner of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in the wireless communications and computing equipment category. Starting from Paralympic Winter Games Torino 2006, the company has proudly supported the Paralympic Movement and enabled athletes and fans around the world to share the excitement and inspiration of the Games through Samsung’s transformative mobile technology. Samsung’s commitment to the Paralympic Games will extend through to Los Angeles 2028 and be celebrated through innovative mobile and computing experiences powered by purposeful innovations in the wireless communications and computing equipment category, including equipment that features artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality and 5G.

¹ ‘B-girl’ refers to a female breakdancer.