Kenya gave a hero's welcome home to marathon record-breaker Sabastian Sawe on Wednesday, complete with a water cannon salute for the aircraft he was aboard. Sawe, the first person to break the fabled two-hour barrier in the marathon, was greeted by his parents and Sports Minister Salim Mvurya at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Historic Achievement
Sawe achieved the feat, long considered unthinkable, on Sunday at the London Marathon, winning in a time of 1 hour, 59 minutes, 30 seconds. He bettered the previous men’s world record by 65 seconds. The sports minister hailed the accomplishment as “a win for Kenya.”
Homecoming Ceremony
Before disembarking, Sawe told The Associated Press he was proud to have “made a great achievement in life” and planned to “try and lower the record further.” He was adorned with a traditional wreath made from twigs to symbolize victory. Traditional dancers sang his praises as he climbed into a luxury government vehicle as part of the “heroic welcome.” The minister said Sawe would be feted on Thursday.
Family Pride
His parents expressed their pride. His mother, Emily Sawe, recalled how he sprinted during bath time as a child. “He would run too fast. So, I would say to myself, this boy will shine for me one day,” she said. His father, Simion Kiplagat Sawe, watched Sunday’s marathon at his brother’s house due to a poor TV signal. “The moment my son pulled in front, I walked out and didn’t see him finish the race. I watched the replay afterwards. I was so happy, extremely happy. We screamed so much that now it is hard to swallow anything,” he said.
Background
Sabastian Sawe was introduced to professional running by his uncle, Abraham Chepkirwok, who ran the 800 meters for Uganda at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Sawe won the Valencia Marathon in 2024, clocking 2:02:05, and entered Sunday's London race as the defending champion. His father says Sawe remains disciplined and determined: “Even now, he still says that record was not enough; he wants to lower it further.”
