Kenyan runner Sebastian Sawe breaks two-hour marathon barrier at London event

Sebastian Sawe has become the first man to complete a marathon in under two hours under competitive conditions, achieving an official time of 01:59:30 at the London Marathon. The 31-year-old Kenyan runner surpassed the previous world record of 2:00:35, which was set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023, by more than one minute. His performance included a first half of the race completed in 1:00:29 and a second half in 59:01.

Following his victory, Sawe was greeted with a hero's welcome upon his return to Nairobi. Upon landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, he was met by family, supporters, dancers, and musicians. The Kenyan Airways plane carrying him received a water cannon salute as he arrived in the capital.

Sawe's parents travelled six hours from their home to the airport to greet him, joining a crush of cameras and supporters. Speaking to the crowd, Sawe expressed his surprise at the reception, stating he did not expect such a turnout. His father, Simeon Sawe, noted that his son had long been determined to break the record, a hope that has now been realised.

Sawe is expected to meet Kenya's President William Ruto following his arrival. While reports indicate a meeting is anticipated, no specific date or schedule for the engagement has been confirmed by officials.

The runner has won all four marathons he has entered to date. He has already indicated plans to compete in an autumn event, expressing his belief that he can run an even faster time. However, details regarding the specific competition he intends to enter have not been disclosed publicly.