The 31-year-old took 15 seconds off fellow Kenyan Patrick Makau's previous world mark of 2:03:38, set in this event two years ago and which has now seen the world marathon record broken nine times around the streets of the German capital in the race's 40-year history.

Four-time Berlin Marathon winner and double Olympic 10,000 metres champion Haile Gebrselassie got the race underway and it was clear from the early pace that Kipsang had Makau's record in mind.

He was part of a 10-man pack that included Kenyan pace makers Edwin Kiptoo and Philemon Rono that reached the halfway stage in 1:01:32, before he, Rono, Kipchoge and Kipsang increased the pace further to pull away from the rest of the field.

Despite passing through the 35 kilometre mark 20 seconds down on Makau's 2011 pace of 1:42:16, Kipsang showed his class by storming through the final few kilometres of the race and crossing the line an incredible 15 seconds inside the previous record.

"I'm very happy that I have won and broken the world record," said Kipsang, who won an Olympic bronze at London 2012.

"I was really inspired by Paul Tergat when he broke the world record here 10 years ago and I'm very happy that I was in a position to break the record on the same course."

Kenya's Wilson Kipsang sips a German beer after breaking the marathon world record in Berlin

Kipsang appears to enjoy the environs of running in German cities as the first of his seven marathon victories came in Frankfurt three years ago, while today's victory was his first win this season, after a disappointing performance in this year's London Marathon saw the defending champion finish in fifth place.

And the man from Keiyo, revealed after the race that there is more to come.

"If I prepare very well, and with the same shape [I can go faster]," he said.

"Today there was a lot of wind, I was really fighting.

"Looking at my marathon progress and career so far, I still think I have the potential to run faster.

"Anything under 2.03.23 would do."

More than 40,000 runners took part in the 40th Berlin Marathon, which started in front of the Brandenburg Gate

The women's race illustrated the Kenyan dominance in this discipline as former International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) World Cross Country champion Florence Kiplagat finished in a time of 2:21:13, ahead of compatriot Sharon Cherop in a close race, with German veteran and national record holder Irina Mikitenko coming home in third to add to her victory in Berlin five years ago.

"I felt strong in the first half of the race, but then I started getting problems with my right foot, I had a blister which forced me to slow down," said the 26-year-old winner, who had also won in 2011.

"I found the weather conditions harder than two years ago here, but I'm still very happy."

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