- His feat marks the first time the sub two hour barrier has been achieved under standard race conditions
- Sawe expressed his excitement after crossing the finish line, describing the achievement as unforgettable
- For years, breaking the two hour mark had been a major target in long distance running
Sabastian Sawe delivered a historic performance at the London Marathon, becoming the first athlete to complete a marathon in under two hours in an official competition.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that Sawe surged to victory in 1 hour 59 minutes 30 seconds, breaking the previous world record of 2:00:35 set by Kelvin Kiptum at the Chicago Marathon in 2023.
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His feat marks the first time the sub two hour barrier has been achieved under standard race conditions, a milestone long considered one of the toughest in athletics.
Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha finished close behind in 1:59:41 during his marathon debut, while Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo placed third in 2:00:28, completing one of the most remarkable podium finishes in marathon history.
Sawe expressed his excitement after crossing the finish line, describing the achievement as unforgettable and crediting his preparation and the energy from spectators for pushing him through the race.
The late Kiptum, who had held the previous record, died in a car accident in 2024 at the age of 24, making Sawe’s achievement even more poignant within the athletics community.
In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa successfully defended her title, setting a new women’s only world record of 2:15:41. She edged past Kenya’s Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei, who finished second and third respectively.
The conditions in London were favourable, with mild temperatures and light winds helping athletes maintain a fast pace throughout the race.
For years, breaking the two hour mark had been a major target in long distance running. While Eliud Kipchoge ran a sub two hour marathon during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in 2019, that effort was not recognised as an official record due to controlled conditions.
Sawe’s performance stands apart because it was achieved in open competition, making it the first officially recognised sub two hour marathon and a defining moment in the sport.
Despite dealing with injuries late last year, Sawe returned to full training early in 2026 and produced a performance that will be remembered as one of the greatest in athletics history.
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