This powerful combination of technology and talent has already reaped rewards. After securing a dominant win at the 2025 Chicago Marathon and shattering the half-marathon world record this March in Lisbon, the 25-year-old is now targeting success at the 2026 London Marathon.

To mark World Health Day (WHD) 2026 on April 7, Samsung Newsroom asked him to detail his data-driven training regime which embodies this year’s WHD slogan, “Together for health. Stand with science.”

With exclusive access to his Samsung Health metrics, we take an inside look into his grueling training program which has seen him cover over 100 km in just one week. Discover how insights led him to adjust his training for optimal recovery and how even a “rest day” can include a 3 km run.

Screenshots from Jacob Kiplimo’s Samsung Health app show his varied training routine, including light jogs and long-distance runs  

Congratulations on your recent world record at the 2026 Lisbon Half Marathon. What’s the secret to your success?

There’s no secret. It’s just about discipline. You have to work hard, be extremely focused, and manage your energy — knowing when to rest and when to push harder. But honestly, the most important part is that you have to really want what you’re working toward. I wouldn’t have broken the world record if I didn’t follow that formula.

You finished second at the 2025 London Marathon and are now preparing to go one step further at this year’s event. What role has your Galaxy Watch8 played in your training?

My coach doesn’t live in Uganda, so my Galaxy Watch8 has basically become his personal assistant here. Even though he’s not with me, he can get real-time analysis and reports on my running form through the Running Analysis feature in Samsung Health. We track my heart rate and pay close attention to my pace for each kilometer. During the harder sessions, I also monitor the asymmetry readings to see if I’m overcompensating on one side so I can avoid strain. Contact time is another key aspect I keep an eye on, making small adjustments to my form to ensure every stride is as efficient as possible. I always try to improve my running economy, so these insights are incredibly helpful.

Looking at your recent Samsung Health data, we can see some clear patterns in your training routine. Tell us about your regime.

Consistency is key, but athletes must not be obsessed with training. What many people don’t realize is that rest is equally as important as physical training. To compete at your best, you need to be able to maximize your energy, and the only way to do that is through consistent rest. But “rest” doesn’t always mean no training. A rest day can mean running 3 km instead of 40 km. You have to be consistent in what you’re doing, but you also need to listen to your body and know when to slow down. Technology can help a lot with this.

Jacob Kiplimo’s Samsung Health data from March 13–19 reveals how he ramps up his training routine throughout the week

Can you give us an example of how a specific insight from the Samsung Health app led you to adapt your training program?

The decision to run 3 km instead of 40 km that I just mentioned was a true story. After experiencing some lingering soreness during a recent 24 km run, I decided to turn what was intended to be a 40 km run into a light 3 km jog to ensure I could recover and have the stamina to get through 40 km another day. The Samsung Health app was very helpful for me here. It kept me informed so I could allow my body to fully recover and prevent a potential injury or burnout.

We’ve seen how a professional runner like yourself uses data to reach their goals. What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their running journey, and how can the Running Coach feature get them on the right track?

For beginners, it is very important to ease into things and be patient. You will build up stamina over time; it’s about knowing when to push yourself and when to stop. Not everyone has a personal coach with them to tailor a training plan. But the Running Coach feature provides customized programs to help even beginners train for a marathon. It tells you exactly what you should be doing during a run, motivates you, and helps you improve. New runners are fortunate to have this fantastic technology which can guide them every step of the way. It’s also great for more experienced runners looking to take on a full marathon as it provides structured training programs.

On World Health Day, the message is “Together for health, stand with science.” How does this relate to your own philosophy?

Science helps me throughout my training. I don’t know where I would be without the ability to track data on my Galaxy Watch8. I use that science to shape my daily routine. Science and technology help me to perform at my best, and I believe it can do the same for anyone.

Jacob Kiplimo training for the London Marathon with his Galaxy Watch8 

From a young runner in Uganda to a world-record holder, Jacob Kiplimo proves what happens when relentless dedication meets smart technology. Whether you are an elite athlete striving for the podium or someone taking your first steps towards a healthier lifestyle, Galaxy Watch8 provides actionable insights to help you build healthier habits and reach your goals.

LONDON, U.K – June 18, 2024 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner, today announced its plans alongside the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) to revolutionise the Paris 2024 broadcast experience for viewers and fans. New, first-of-its-kind footage – which will be captured and shared with Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – will play an integral role in opening up the historic Opening Ceremony on the Seine River and the Olympic Games’ sailing competitions like never before.

As the Official Smartphone and Computing Equipment partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Samsung will harness its advanced mobile technology and 5G connectivity to provide a closer perspective of these iconic celebratory and competition moments. This new view, powered by Samsung Galaxy innovation, will not just help Paris 2024 deliver on its promise to be the most open Games ever, but also further Samsung’s legacy of innovation in support of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“In an increasingly connected society, Samsung Galaxy mobile technology has helped deepen and transform users’ relationships with the world, wherever they are. Having been a Worldwide Partner for nearly three decades, we know first-hand how important it is to create and enable the same meaningful connections at the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Stephanie Choi, EVP & Head of Marketing of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “We’re honored to be working closely with the IOC and OBS to provide high quality footage that will be part of a series of firsts at Paris 2024 and bring fans at home and onsite even closer to the excitement.”

In about a month, the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games will take place outside of a stadium for the first time ever. Paris 2024 will see 10,500 athletes float down the Seine River in designated boats for each national delegation, in what aims to be the most open and accessible opening ceremony in history. Departing from the Austerlitz bridge, the iconic parade will follow a six-kilometer route through the centre of Paris, passing some of the official Olympic Games venues before the ceremony’s grand finale at the Trocadéro.

Galaxy S24 Ultra Gives Viewers Front Row Seat to the Games

To bring fans at home closer to the action and provide an intimate glimpse of athlete’s reactions during this once-in-a-lifetime voyage, Samsung will install more than 200 Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphones at the bow and sides of each of the 85 athlete vessels at the opening ceremony. The high-quality HDR footage taken with the Galaxy S24 Ultra devices will be shared and streamed via a private 5G network powered by Orange, the official mobile network provider of Paris 2024 in France. Orange will install more than a dozen of 5G antennas along the Seine to create the first-ever 5G standalone network in France, as this pioneering collaboration is designed to ensure a seamless 5G connectivity and viewing experience for fans around the world.

Samsung will also deploy the same technology for the sailing competitions in Marseille by installing the Galaxy S24 Ultra on each competition boat, letting fans experience the thrill of the race alongside their favorite Olympians and allowing them to truly get in on the action.

This presented a whole new set of challenges and months of research, development and testing – in close collaboration with the OBS and Orange – to guarantee video quality and connectivity performance across various bodies of water and weather conditions, which can be really windy with huge waves or extremely hot and sunny. Samsung and its partners addressed these challenges by leveraging the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s Optical image stabilisation (OIS) features, increasing transmission power, and installing relay towers on chase boat to ensure a seamless livestream experience for viewers.

“As host broadcaster of the Olympic Games, we’re incredibly excited about this partnership with Samsung which will allow a truly original perspective of Paris 2024, evolving the way in which fans will experience the Games,” said Yiannis Exarchos, Chief Executive Officer of OBS. “Samsung’s latest mobile innovation will allow millions of fans around the world to live and breathe the spirit, action and emotion of the Opening Ceremony and sailing competitions alongside their favorite athletes in real-time.”

Samsung’s Long-Running Contribution to the Games

This announcement marks the next stage of Samsung’s long-standing commitment, in close collaboration with the IOC, to drive digital transformation and deliver cutting-edge technology at the Games by opening up the latest mobile innovations to athletes, fans and communities alike. This originated with the first ‘Call Home’ program which allowed nearly 2,500 athletes to speak to their families back home for free in 1998, when access to mobile phones was limited. It continued with the Wireless Olympic Works (WOW) app, the first official Olympic information service on mobile. The WOW app was introduced to Olympic organisers via Samsung-supplied Palm OS phones at Athens 2004 and then was made available to the public at Vancouver 2010, providing fans with the latest Games-time updates straight to their mobile phones.

In addition to driving mobile innovation, Samsung has also contributed to how athletes, and staff, connect and communicate during the Games-time. Since Nagano 1998, Samsung has provided athletes and staff with a total of more than 120,000 mobile products.

Details of how Samsung will further leverage its technological capabilities to bring fans closer to athletes, in another Olympic first will be revealed in the coming weeks.

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.

“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-girl^[1] 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; Yeri Kim, 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.

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