On Sunday, April 26, 2026, Kenyan marathoner Sabastian Sawe achieved what was once considered impossible: he became the first man in history to complete a marathon in under two hours, crossing the finish line in front of Buckingham Palace with a time of 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds.
This monumental achievement obliterated the previous world record set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in 2023, which stood at 2 hours, 1 minute and 25 seconds. Sawe’s performance represents a 1 minute and 55 second improvement over Kiptum’s mark, shattering what many believed to be a near-impossible barrier in distance running.
The historic run took place during the 2026 London Marathon, where Sawe competed wearing Adidas’s new Pro Evo 3 supershoe, which he described as being even faster than its predecessor. According to his agent Eric Lilot, the pacing strategy involved having pacemakers guide Sawe through the halfway point in 60 minutes and 30 seconds, positioning him for a potential record attempt.
Sawe’s victory marks his second consecutive London Marathon title, having won the 2025 edition in a time of 2 hours, 2 minutes and 27 seconds. His main rival in this year’s race was Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo, the Chicago Marathon winner and 2025 London Marathon runner-up, who pushed Sawe throughout the challenging course.
The achievement comes amid ideal racing conditions, with tailwinds forecast for the final few miles of the course, which runs from Blackheath to Buckingham Palace along the traditional London Marathon route. Race organizers noted favorable weather conditions that contributed to the fast times recorded throughout the elite field.
In the women’s race, Ethiopian Tigst Assefa aimed to defend her title and improve upon her own world record, which she set at the 2025 London Marathon with a time of 2 hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds. Assefa, who faces competition from athletes including Hellen Obiri and Eilish McColgan, expressed confidence in her ability to surpass her previous mark based on her improved training regimen.
The London Marathon, one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors, continues to attract the world’s elite distance runners seeking to test their limits on its historic course. The event’s prestige and competitive field make it a frequent venue for world-class performances and record-breaking attempts.
Sawe’s sub-2:00 marathon represents a watershed moment in the sport of athletics, demonstrating the continued evolution of human performance in endurance events. His achievement will undoubtedly inspire future generations of runners to pursue what was once thought unattainable.
As the athletics community processes this historic achievement, attention now turns to the upcoming World Athletics Championships and how this breakthrough might influence training approaches and competitive strategies across the sport.
What are your thoughts on this groundbreaking achievement in marathon running? Share your perspective in the comments below and join the conversation about the future of distance running.
