A relatively unknown Frenchman just rewrote history at one of ultrarunning’s most hallowed events — and nobody saw it coming.
Vincent Bouillard, 32, didn’t just win the Western States 100 on Saturday. He obliterated a course record that had stood since 2019, crossing the finish line in a jaw-dropping 13:46:15 — more than 23 minutes faster than the previous mark set by legendary four-time champion Jim Walmsley.
And while Bouillard wasn’t even on most people’s radar heading into the race, what unfolded over 100.2 miles of grueling Sierra Nevada terrain was nothing short of extraordinary.
This is the story of how an unheralded Frenchman turned the ultrarunning world upside down — and what it might mean for the sport’s future.
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A Record Nobody Expected to Fall
Walmsley’s 2019 time of 14:09:28 had long been considered one of the most untouchable marks in trail running.
Bouillard didn’t just chip away at it — he demolished it, becoming the first runner in the race’s 53-year history to complete the journey from Olympic Valley, California, to the Sierra Nevada foothills town of Auburn in under 14 hours.
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What makes the performance even more remarkable is the company it puts him in. Bouillard is now just the seventh runner ever to win both Western States and the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, having claimed UTMB glory in Chamonix, France, in 2024.
That’s a short list of legends. And Bouillard just added his name to it at 32 years old.
Patient, Calculated, Unstoppable
There was no dramatic early surge, no gamble at the starting gun. Coached by American Mario Fraioli, Bouillard ran a textbook race — disciplined, measured, and devastatingly effective.
He settled comfortably within the early lead group as the course climbed to the 8,750-foot summit of Emigrant Pass, keeping his powder dry alongside Kilian Jornet, Walmsley himself, and 26-year-old Hans Troyer through the cold and windy high country terrain.
The patience paid off in spectacular fashion. The top four men all finished under the previous course record — a staggering collective performance that signals just how deep elite ultrarunning has become.
The Changing of the Guard Nobody Wanted to Watch
If there was a shadow hanging over Saturday’s result, it came in the form of three DNFs that shook the sport to its core.
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Walmsley, 36, Kilian Jornet, 38, and Hayden Hawks, 35 — three of the most accomplished names in ultrarunning history — each saw their races end before the finish line. Jornet stepped off at mile 38. Walmsley and Hawks both withdrew at mile 62.
For fans hoping to see the old guard defend their turf against a new wave of challengers, it was a painful afternoon.
Bouillard himself felt the sting of those absences, even in the midst of his finest hour.
I’m bummed for Jim that he couldn’t give us a true fight because he deserved better than that. And same for Kilian, too.
It’s a telling quote. Even at the peak of his triumph, Bouillard was thinking about the competitors who couldn’t finish — a sign of the deep respect that runs through this sport’s elite community.
Still Processing It All
After running 100-plus miles through one of the most demanding landscapes in North America and rewriting the record books, Bouillard was remarkably grounded in the aftermath.
I think it’s going to take some time to really register. Competition is such a thing that it can go in many different ways. I’m lucky that it went well for me today. There are so many other strong competitors today, including unfortunately some that had to drop out.
Lucky. That’s the word he chose. A man who just ran faster than any human being in Western States history called himself lucky.
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It speaks volumes about both his character and the brutal unpredictability of the sport he’s now mastering.
Jennifer Lichter Makes History Too
The women’s race delivered its own slice of history on Saturday.
Jennifer Lichter, 30, of Missoula, Montana, crossed the finish line in a course-record 15:28:05 — a dominant performance that matched the magnitude of what Bouillard achieved on the men’s side.
Two course records in a single day. Western States 2025 will be talked about for a very long time.
What Comes Next for Bouillard?
Coming off a disappointing showing at Western States last year, Bouillard’s 2025 victory represents one of ultrarunning’s great redemption arcs.
He now owns a UTMB title, a Western States title, and a course record that may stand for years. The question isn’t whether Bouillard belongs among the sport’s elite — it’s whether anyone can keep up with him.
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- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
With a new generation stepping into the spotlight and the sport’s former titans facing question marks about what comes next, ultrarunning finds itself at a genuinely fascinating crossroads. And right now, Vincent Bouillard is standing squarely at the center of it.
