Meet John Korir's Brother, Wesley, Inside Their 2 Year Silence Before Winning Boston Marathon

John Korir fell just seconds after the 2025 Boston Marathon began in Hopkinton. While others ran ahead, he was on the ground and the race looked over. But he got up quickly, found his pace, and worked his way back. By the final stretch, he was leading the race. At the finish line, his brother Wesley Korir was waiting. Thirteen years after Wesley’s 2012 win, John followed him, turning pain into a powerful family story.

John Korir's Boston Marathon 2025 fall and historic win

The race started badly for John. Within seconds, he tripped and slid on the road. He had cuts on his hand and knee. For a moment, he thought about stopping. But then something pushed him. He remembered the long months of training and the promise he had made to win. He got up and kept going. Step by step, he caught the lead group. Then, around mile 20, he made his move. His pace suddenly changed, and no one could match it. From there, he pulled away and never looked back. 

John finished the race in 2:04:45. It was the second-fastest winning time in Boston Marathon history. He won by 19 seconds, holding his race bib in his hand as he crossed the line. Right after the finish, Wesley hugged him. It was a moment that showed how far they had come as brothers. Wesley later said: 

“I knew how much he wanted to win. We believed we could be the first brothers to both win Boston. He told me, ‘I will bring it home.’ And he did.”

Wesley Korir's 2012 Boston victory and the Kenyan Kids Foundation's impact

Wesley’s journey started years before John’s. He grew up in Kitale, Kenya, in a big family with eight children. Life was not easy. There were times when school fees were hard to pay. Running became his way out. He earned a chance to study in the United States, first at Murray State University and later at the University of Louisville. After finishing college in 2007, he built a strong marathon career. His biggest moment came in 2012 when he won the Boston Marathon. He also had several top finishes in major races between 2009 and 2015, including a second-place finish at the 2011 Chicago Marathon.

In 2010, Wesley and his wife, Tarah Korir, started the Kenyan Kids Foundation. The goal is to help children go to school. In 2011, they built a small hospital in Biribiriet. It was created in memory of Wesley’s brother, Eliud, who died after a snake bite. Later, Wesley also served in Kenya’s parliament after being elected in 2013 as an independent candidate. He once expressed his reason: “We struggled a lot growing up. When I started earning, the first thing I did was support my family.” He paid for his siblings’ education and helped them start small businesses so they could stand on their own.

John Korir and Wesley Korir's two year fallout and reunion story

Even though John Korir and Wesley Korir followed the same path, their relationship hit a rough phase in 2018. John started strong with a second-place finish in Ottawa, but soon issues around training began. He later admitted he was skipping sessions and not listening to advice. The situation got worse at the Toronto Marathon when he dropped out, leading to a serious argument between the brothers. 

They did not speak for nearly two years. During that time, John’s career slowed, and he even stopped running, working as a tractor driver. In 2020, the family helped them reconnect. John returned with discipline, won the Los Angeles Marathon in 2021, and impressed again in Chicago in 2022.

John Korir and Wesley Korir using prize money to support education in Kenya

John’s biggest breakthrough came in 2024 when he won the Chicago Marathon in 2:02:44. That run placed him among the fastest marathon runners in the world. After that, he trained even harder for Boston. He increased his weekly mileage and pushed his limits in workouts. His goal was to win Boston, just like Wesley did. After achieving that goal in 2025, John did something that reflected his brother’s influence. He donated 10 per cent of his USD 150,000 prize money to help students in Kenya. The funds will help buy a bigger bus so young athletes can travel safely for training. 

John is now also mentoring students at the academy. Just like he once followed Wesley during training runs, young runners now look up to him. At the same time, Wesley continues to expand his work. Recently, he partnered with Emily and Keith Davis to launch Bingwa Coffee. The brand supports local farmers in Kenya, and part of its earnings go back to help students. Their journey, from silence to standing together again, has become bigger than sport. Wesley summed it up in a simple way:

“We have both given our best. Now people can see what is possible.”

What are your thoughts on John Korir and Wesley Korir turning their Boston Marathon success into real change for Kenya? Let us know.

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