Look at him go was first posed on April 10th, 2017 on /tv/ as a shitpost thread, which was deleted by mods within 25 minutes. It initially consisted of a .gif of a duck walking, rather than the boy we all know.
https://archive.4plebs.org/tv/thread/81490098/
It was shitposted on /tv/, presumably by the same anon, a month later into May. Around this time, it first made its way into /bant/ on May 14th.
https://archive.nyafuu.org/bant/thread/567432/#574155
Several months passed before the first instance of the running boy we all know made his appearance, which was on July 28th, posted by an American.
https://archive.nyafuu.org/bant/thread/1591979/#1591979
It was then reposted by a leaf, another burger, then a kraut and a nip many time over the next several days.
https://archive.nyafuu.org/bant/thread/1642705/#1642761
https://archive.nyafuu.org/bant/thread/1610215/#1610463
https://archive.nyafuu.org/bant/thread/1595136/#1595552
https://archive.nyafuu.org/bant/thread/1629650/#1629650
https://archive.nyafuu.org/bant/thread/1613781/#1613781
Eventually, the boy overtook the ducke in his position as him.
This is how he solidified his position. Respect his journey as it continues.