LONDON: Kenyan athlete Sebastian Sawe made history at the London Marathon 2026 by setting a new world record.
Sawe completed the 42.195-kilometre race in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds, securing first position and becoming the first athlete to officially finish a marathon in under two hours in a competitive race.
With this remarkable performance, he broke the previous world record held by Kelvin Kiptum, who had clocked 2 hours and 35 seconds in 2023.
Sawe accelerated impressively in the final stages of the race, leaving his competitors behind. Yomif Kejelcha finished second, while Jacob Kiplimo secured third place, with both athletes also recording times faster than the previous world record.
Experts have described the achievement as a major milestone in long-distance running, as completing a marathon in under two hours was long considered unattainable.
Sawe’s victory is being hailed as not only a career-defining moment but also the beginning of a new era in global athletics.
