About - Marko Cheseto

Marko Cheseto is a Kenyan, Double amputee World Record Holder and an All-American athlete.

Almost every day, you can find Marko on the Clay Loop in Clermont, FL. It’s a favorite among runners, but to Marko it reminds him of his childhood. The clay streets of Ptop, a village situated in the western Kenyan mountains, where he was the third oldest of 11 children. With an interest in running, Cheseto enrolled in a running academy in Eldoret, and started training twice daily. After finding moderate success, Michael Friess, the track and cross-country coach at the University of Alaska Anchorage offered Marko a full scholarship. In 2008, 2009, and 2010, Cheseto won first place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Marko was also an NCAA West Region champion in 2009 and 2010, and earned All-American status in 2008 and 2010. In addition, he was also named GNAC’s Male Athlete of the Year from 2008 to 2010, and West Region Male Athlete of the Year in 2009 and 2010. An inspiring start to a story that was about to take a turn.

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In February of 2011, the unexpected happened. Marko’s cousin, who had since joined him on the Alaskan running team, committed suicide. This left Marko suffering from depression.

On November 6, 2011, Marko went for a run in a blizzard and never returned back to his home. Suffering from severe hypothermia and frostbite every moment became more dire. 56 hours after he left for a run, the search party found Marko outside of a hotel near campus.

A week of recovery later, Marko had to undergo surgery to amputate both of his legs. But the story doesn’t stop here.

7 years after losing his legs, Cheseto competed in a marathon for the first time at the New York City Marathon in 2018. Not only did he complete the marathon in under the average time for runners of over 4 hours, but became the second double amputee in history to finish in under 3 hours. Then at the 2019 Boston Marathon, Marko set a world record for a marathon by a double amputee with a time of 2:42:24. And then in 2021 at the New York Marathon, Marko beat his own record to hold the new world record for a marathon by a double amputee with a time of 2:35:55.

If you have heard his story or just read it for the first time above, then you know why you should book Marko Cheseto for your next event. He loves to inspire others to fight through their depression, to overcome trials and tribulations when the unexpected happens, and to break through and exceed your own goals. Fill out the speaking form and let Marko know the details of your event.

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