Kenyan long-distance runner Sabastian Sawe made athletics history on April 26, 2026, by becoming the first person to complete a competitive marathon in under two hours. He won the 2026 London Marathon with a world-record time of 1:59:30, shattering the previous official mark of 2:00:35.
Career Highlights & Records
Born on March 16, 1995, Sawe rose quickly through the ranks of elite distance running. His historic sub-two-hour performance in London was only his fourth career marathon, continuing an undefeated streak in the distance.
Key achievements in his career include:
Marathon World Record: 1:59:30 (London Marathon, April 2026).
Berlin Marathon Winner (2025): Finished in 2:02:16, a performance notable for his commitment to rigorous drug testing to ensure transparency.
Valencia Marathon Winner (2024): Set a world-leading time of 2:02:05 in his debut or early career marathons.
Half Marathon Success: Won the 2024 Copenhagen Half Marathon (58:05) and the 2022 Rome-Ostia Half Marathon (58:02).
One Hour Run Record: Holds the Kenyan national record for the one-hour run, covering 21,250 meters in 2022.
Impact on the Sport
Sawe's achievement is considered a landmark moment, officially breaking a barrier that many thought impossible in a standard race environment. While Eliud Kipchoge famously ran 1:59:40.2 in 2019, that event was a controlled time trial and not recognized as an official world record. Sawe's run in London was also faster than Kipchoge's exhibition time by ten seconds.
His 2026 London win was part of a historic day for the sport, as runner-up Yomif Kejelcha also broke the two-hour barrier in his debut marathon, finishing in 1:59:41
Sources: Adidas, London Marathon, Guinness Book Of World Records