Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe breaks 2-hour marathon barrier in London, shatters world record by 65 seconds in historic race victory
Sabastian Sawe of Kenya made marathon history on Sunday by becoming the first athlete to officially break the two-hour barrier, winning the London Marathon in a record-shattering 1:59:30.
The 29-year-old not only defended his title but also crushed the previous world record by 65 seconds, delivering a performance that redefined expectations in elite distance running. Sawe ran a negative split, accelerating in the second half to cover it in 59:01, before breaking away from the field after 30 kilometers and powering solo to the finish along The Mall.
“What comes today is not for me alone, but for all of us today in London,” Sawe said after the race, thanking the crowds lining the course for their support. “With them calling, you feel so happy and strong.”
Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha also dipped under the two-hour mark in his marathon debut, finishing second in 1:59:41, while Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo completed the podium in 2:00:28, itself under the previous official world record.
The breakthrough marks a new era for marathon running, surpassing even the unofficial sub-two-hour effort recorded in a specially staged exhibition event in 2019. In that attempt, conditions were controlled, and pacemakers rotated, meaning it did not qualify as an official record.
Sawe’s achievement came on a standard London course in dry, favorable conditions, prompting former marathon champion Paula Radcliffe to say during commentary that “the goalposts have literally just moved for marathon running.”
The men’s marathon world record has steadily fallen over the past two decades, from 2:05:42 in 1999 to incremental improvements driven by elite Kenyan and Ethiopian runners, culminating in Sunday’s historic performance.
In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa successfully defended her title, winning in 2:15:41 after pulling away in the final stages to record the fastest-ever women’s-only marathon time, though still shy of the mixed-race course record.
The wheelchair races also saw dominant performances, with Switzerland’s Marcel Hug claiming a sixth straight men’s title, while Catherine Debrunner secured victory in the women’s division after a close battle with Tatyana McFadden.
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