Sabastian Sawe delivered a historic performance at the 2026 London Marathon on Sunday, clocking an official world-record time of 1:59:30 to become the first athlete to break the two-hour barrier in an open, competitive race.
The Kenyan bettered the late Kelvin Kiptum's previous record of 2:00:35 by 65 seconds, achieving what had previously only been managed under controlled, non-competitive conditions. The race unfolded at an unprecedented pace, ending in what many will argue as the greatest men's marathon podium in history.
Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha finished second in 1:59:41, becoming only the second man after Sawe to break the two-hour barrier, simultaneously setting the record for the fastest-ever runner-up finish. The performance came on his marathon debut, making the 28-year-old's timing the quickest debut on record.
Remarkably, Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo took third in 2:00:28, also bettering Kiptum's previous world record, underlining the extraordinary pace of the race.
Here's a look at the world record breaking moment:
Watch Sabastian Sawe 🇰🇪 run 1:59:30 to destroy the Marathon World Record in London!!🤯🔥
— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) April 26, 2026
First man ever to break 2 hours in a marathon.
2. Yomif Kejelcha 🇪🇹 1:59:41
3. Jacob Kiplimo 🇺🇬 2:00:28
All under the previous World Record.pic.twitter.com/g76PpMHkiG
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Who Is Sabastian Sawe?
Sabastian Kimaru Sawe has rapidly emerged as the dominant force in men's marathon running. The 31-year-old Kenyan has built a consistent progression across major races, winning the Valencia Marathon in 2024 (2:02:05), followed by victories in London (2:02:27) and Berlin (2:02:16) in 2025, before making it four wins out of four with a historic finish this year in London.
What's even more impressive is that Sawe's rise has come alongside heightened scrutiny around doping in distance running. The Kenyan has taken a proactive stance on the issue, even willingly undergoing 25 out-of-competition doping tests in the lead-up to his 2025 Berlin Marathon victory.
Speaking to The Guardian, Sawe explained the rationale behind that move, "The main reason was to show that I am clean, and I am doing it the right way.
"As Kenyans we have been challenged because of doping cases. So before the Berlin Marathon I was tested 25 times, blood and urine, around two or three times a week. And one day I was even tested twice - first thing in the morning and late at night."
Sawe prepares for races at high altitude in western Kenya, staying in a shared training camp and seeing his wife and son only a couple of times each month. He grew up in a nearby rural highland village that lacked access to electricity.
He has been mentored by his Uncle Abraham Chepkirwok, who competed in the 800m for Uganda at the 2008 Olympics.
Top 5 Marathon Runs Of All Time
The events in London have effectively rewritten the all-time rankings for men's marathon performances, with the top three fastest times in history now coming from a single race:
- Sabastian Sawe (Kenya) - 1:59:30, London Marathon 2026
- Yomif Kejelcha (Ethiopia) - 1:59:41, London Marathon 2026
- Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) - 2:00:28, London Marathon 2026
- Kelvin Kiptum (Kenya) - 2:00:35, Chicago Marathon 2023
- Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) - 2:01:09, Berlin Marathon 2022
For the first time in history, the sub-two-hour barrier has been breached under official race conditions, with Sawe and Kejelcha now the only athletes to achieve the feat in a competitive setting.
The London Marathon 2026, marked by record density across both men's and women's races, stands as a defining moment in the evolution of long-distance running.
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