Sabastian Sawe, a 31-year-old Kenyan runner, made history on April 26 by winning the London Marathon in a record time of 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds, becoming the first person to run the official 26.2-mile distance under two hours. His victory sparked celebrations across Kenya and drew attention to the role of faith in the country's long-distance running success.
Sawe, a devout Catholic, had attended Mass at Holy Family Catholic Church in Eldoret before the race and requested prayers. The parish priest, Rev. Pius Tuwei, said he blessed Sawe without expecting such a triumph. 'When I blessed him, I never thought he would achieve such a global victory,' Tuwei said.
Ethiopian runner Yomif Kejelcha finished 11 seconds behind Sawe, also running under two hours. Sawe told reporters, 'Nothing is impossible.' His religious commitment is well-known in his community, where he is praised for his generosity to the church, a trait he may have inherited from his grandmother.
In Kenya, a Christian-majority country, many children start running barefoot on rugged paths. Church leaders note that champions often seek blessings from pastors before major races. Eliud Kipchoge, another Kenyan star, has credited his Catholic faith for keeping him focused. Kipchoge first broke the two-hour barrier in a 2019 non-official event.
Sports analysts attribute Kenya's running success to genetics, training, and upbringing, but faith is increasingly seen as a factor. Former world record holder Patrick Makau Musyoki said, 'For us to manage to go to a race and a winner to run the world record, we should have faith in God.' Brother Colm O'Connell, a missionary and coach, said Sawe's talent appears genuine.
