Kenyan long-distance runner Sabastian Sawe has made history by becoming the first athlete to complete an official marathon in under two hours, achieving the milestone at the 2026 London Marathon.
Sawe delivered a remarkable performance, crossing the finish line in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds to set a new world record and break one of athletics’ most elusive barriers. The 31-year-old surged ahead in the closing stages of the race after a fierce contest with Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who finished second in 1:59:41—also under the two-hour mark and the fastest marathon debut ever.
Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo came third in 2:00:28, making it the fastest top-three finish in marathon history. Reacting after the race, Sawe expressed excitement over the achievement, describing it as a long-awaited reward for months of preparation.“I am feeling good. I am so happy. It is a day to remember for me,” he said. He added, “We started the race well… Finally reaching the finish line, I saw the time, and I was so excited.”
The historic feat shattered the previous world record of 2:00:35 set in 2023 and marked the first time the two-hour barrier has been broken under official race conditions, a milestone long considered one of the greatest challenges in endurance sport.
Sawe’s achievement also comes years after fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge ran a sub-two-hour time in 2019, though that effort was not officially recognised due to controlled race conditions. The race also saw Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa set a new women-only world record, capping a historic day at the London Marathon.
