[1] A member of the Sebei ethnic group, he grew up in Kween on Mount Elgon, living at a high altitude.

Kiplimo won a selection trial for the World Mountain Running Championships in 2015 but was not allowed to compete due to his age.

[3] At the age of fifteen, Kiplimo won the 10,000 metres bronze medal at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships behind fellow East Africans Rodgers Kwemoi and Aron Kifle.

[8] At the Ugandan Cross Country Championships on 16 February in Tororo, Kiplimo defeated Joshua Cheptegei by placing first and second, respectively.

[11][12] On 31 December, Kiplimo ran the Saint Silvester Road Race (15 km) in São Paulo and was beaten by Kibiwott Kandie at the finish line.

[13] On 8 September, Kiplimo won the 5000 m run in Ostrava, Czech Republic in a time of 12:48.63 and improved his personal best of 13:13.64 set as a 16-year-old at the 2017 Prefontaine Classic.

[16] On 6 December, he competed in the Valencia Half Marathon against Kibiwott Kandie, Rhonex Kipruto, and Alexander Mutiso.

[17] On 21 March 2021, Kiplimo competed at the Campaccio cross country race in San Giorgio su Legnano, Italy.

[21] On 18 February, Kiplimo won the gold medal in the 10-kilometer race at the World Cross Country Championships held in Bathurst, Australia with a time of 29:17.

Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi finished second in 29:26 followed by Joshua Cheptegei (29:37), world record holder for the 5000 m and 10,000 m, who had been defending his title from Aarhus 2019.