Sawe crossed the finish line in an astonishing 1:59:30, rewriting distance running history on one of the sport’s biggest stages. The performance marks the first time the sub-two-hour marathon has been achieved in an official race setting, ending years of debate and controlled experimental attempts.
“I am feeling good, I am happy, it’s a day to remember for me,” Sawe told reporters after his record-breaking run, holding up his shoe marked with the words “world record” and “sub-2” written in black ink.
Historic race pushes human limits
The race itself delivered a dramatic trio of landmark performances. Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, running his first marathon, also went under the two-hour mark, finishing just 11 seconds behind Sawe. Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo completed the podium in 2:00:28, breaking the previous official world record set by Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in 2023 by seven seconds.
The sub-two-hour marathon has been one of athletics’ most elusive goals, pursued for years through high-profile experimental projects designed to test human endurance under near-perfect conditions.
Nike’s Breaking2 attempt in Monza in 2017 narrowly missed the mark, while Eliud Kipchoge famously ran 1:59:40 in Vienna in 2019 during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, an achievement not recognised as an official record due to its controlled setup.
Sawe’s breakthrough, however, came in open competition in London, giving the feat unprecedented legitimacy within elite marathon racing.
Sawe’s triumph is made even more striking by his disrupted preparation. The Kenyan athlete was injured throughout the previous autumn and only resumed proper training in January. By February, he had recovered sufficiently to prepare for a title defence in London, culminating in a historic victory few could have predicted.
He credited the atmosphere in the capital for helping drive his performance.
“I think they help a lot,” Sawe said of the crowd support. “With them calling, you feel so happy and strong.”
The women’s race also produced a record-breaking performance, as Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa defended her London Marathon title in 2:15:41. The 29-year-old broke her own world record by nine seconds, pulling away late from Kenya’s Hellen Obiri, who finished second in 2:15:53, with Joyciline Jepkosgei third in 2:15:55.
— media sport (@sportnmedia2) April 26, 2026
Leave a Reply