Sabastian Sawe’s historic run marks the first time anyone has officially completed a marathon in under two hours. On April 26, 2026, during the London Marathon, Sawe finished with an astonishing time of 1:59:30, breaking the previous world record of 2:00:35 set by Kelvin Kiptum.
This remarkable achievement comes nearly seven years after Eliud Kipchoge’s iconic sub-two-hour marathon at a staged event in Vienna. Yet, this time it was different — Sawe accomplished this feat in a legal race, showcasing his extraordinary talent and determination.
Yomif Kejelcha followed closely behind, finishing second with 1:59:41. Jacob Kiplimo secured third place, clocking in at 2:00:28, also breaking the previous record. The competition was fierce, but Sawe’s performance stood out.
Sawe’s average pace was impressive — 4:33 per mile. He ran the second half of the marathon in just 59 minutes and 1 second, faster than the American half-marathon record. Clearly, he was in peak form.
“Of course, approaching the finishing line, always there is a lot — it’s a matter of being strong and my mind was ready,” Sawe reflected after his historic run. “What comes today is not for me alone, but for all of us today in London.”
Tigst Assefa also made headlines by winning the women’s elite race, finishing in 2:15:41, which broke her own women’s-only marathon world record. The day belonged to Kenyan athletes — their dominance continues to shape the landscape of distance running.
With this victory, Sawe retains his title in London, becoming the first man to do so since Kipchoge did it back-to-back in 2018 and 2019. His win adds to an already impressive resume; he has now triumphed in all four major marathons he has raced.
The running community is buzzing about what this means for future marathons. Observers wonder if we will see more athletes breaking the two-hour barrier in sanctioned races. After all, if Sawe can do it, who might follow?
The implications are profound — not just for Sawe’s career but for the sport as a whole. As discussions about training methods and race strategies evolve, one thing is clear: Sabastian Sawe has etched his name into marathon history.
