Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe breaks marathon world record in London
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Sabastian Sawe broke new ground in less than 2 hours at the London Marathon on Sunday.
The Kenyan athlete won the London Marathon in 1 hour 59 minutes 30 seconds, breaking the previous men’s world record by 65 seconds.
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Kenyan Sebastian Sawe crosses the finish line to win the men’s race at the London Marathon on April 26, 2026 in London. (Ian Walton/AP)
“What’s coming today is not just for me, it’s for all of us in London today,” Sawe said.
The long-distance runner is a decorated athlete with wins at the 2025 London Marathon and the 2025 Berlin Marathon. He won the 2023 Riga half marathon and the 2023 World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst.
He added that Sunday was “a day to remember” and credited the huge crowds in London with helping him provide the extra push he needed to keep up with the world record pace.
“I think they help a lot,” she said, “because without them you wouldn’t feel so loved… when they call you, you feel so happy and strong.”
Sabastian Sawe of Team Kenya poses with Yomif Kejelcha of Team Ethiopia and Jacob Kiplimo of Team Uganda during the presentation ceremony after the men’s 2026 TCS London Marathon on April 26, 2026 in London, England. (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
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Yomif Kejelcha from Ethiopia also completed the course in under 2 hours but only 11 seconds behind Sawe. Jacob Kiplimo from Uganda finished behind them in 2 hours and 28 seconds.
The two-hour limit has been unofficially exceeded before.
Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge completed this feat in Vienna in 2019 in a race called the “1.59 Challenge”. The event was organized by British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe in prime conditions on a 6-mile track and used rotating pacemakers.
Kipchoge’s time was 1 hour 59 minutes 40 seconds.
Sebastian Sawe of Kenya celebrates winning the men’s race at the London Marathon on April 26, 2026 in London. (Ian Walton/AP)
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“The goalposts have literally moved for marathon running,” former London Marathon winner Paula Radcliffe said on the BBC broadcast.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
