Sabastian Sawe made history at the London Marathon on Sunday, becoming the first person to run an official marathon in under two hours. The 31-year-old Kenyan crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds, shattering the previous world record of 2:00.35 set by Kelvin Kiptum.
A Historic Achievement
Sawe's performance was described as an act of serene beauty and supreme destruction. Running at an average pace of 2:50 per kilometer, he maintained a speed equivalent to running 100 meters in under 17 seconds for over 42 kilometers. The achievement drew comparisons to Sir Roger Bannister's sub-four-minute mile and Usain Bolt's 100-meter world record.
The Race Unfolds
The leading pack went through halfway in 60 minutes and 29 seconds, but Sawe accelerated in the second half. Between 30 and 35 kilometers, he and Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha ran a stunning 13:54 for 5km, and then covered kilometers 35 to 40 in 13:42—two seconds faster than the 5km parkrun world record. Kejelcha faltered after a 4:12 mile at the 38km mark, but Sawe powered on to run the second half in just over 59 minutes.
Sawe's Remarkable Journey
Sawe grew up in a remote Kenyan village with mud walls and no electricity. He was so shy that he often hid in the school kitchen before races, but a teacher named Julius Kemei forced him to compete, telling him, "Running is not just talent, it's your fortune, and your future." Sawe joined the 2Running group led by Italian coach Claudio Berardelli in his mid-20s, where he began to excel. Berardelli said, "Thank God, he didn't give up. What happened today is 90% Sabastian."
Doping Concerns and Testing
Given Kenya's history of doping violations, questions have been raised about Sawe's record. However, his sponsors at Adidas have paid the Athletics Integrity Unit $50,000 for extensive testing. Before the Berlin marathon, Sawe was tested 25 times in a few weeks, with samples subjected to advanced detection methods. He continues to undergo more urine and blood tests than other marathon runners.
Women's Race
In the women's race, Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa defended her title, winning in a women's-only world record of 2:15:41, 12 seconds ahead of Hellen Obiri. The race came down to a three-way sprint down the Mall, with Assefa kicking from home near Buckingham Palace.
Sawe's victory earned him over $1 million in prize money, appearance fees, and bonuses. As he crossed the line, he made the sign of the cross and clasped his hands in prayer—a gesture that felt fitting for what many called a marathon miracle.
