Kenya's Sabastian Sawe became the first runner to complete an official marathon in less than two hours as he broke the world record at the London Marathon on Sunday.
Kenya's Sabastian Sawe crosses the finish line to win the men's elite race on Sunday at the London Marathon.
On a calm, sunny morning, the 31-year-old finished the marathon in one hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds. That crushed the previous record — set by Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum in the 2023 Chicago Marathon — by 65 seconds.
"I am feeling good," Sawe told BBC Sport. "I am happy. It is a day to remember for me."
Kenya's Sabastian Sawe celebrates with a shoe after winning the men's elite race and setting a new world record with a time of 01:59:30 on Sunday at the London Marathon.
Not only did Sawe blast through a psychological and physiological barrier akin to the four-minute mile, he set the pace for Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha to go under two hours as well. Kejelcha finished in 1:59.41.
"We started the race well and approaching the end of the race, I was feeling strong and I remember (Kejelcha) was so competitive," Sawe said. "I think he helped me a lot. Finally, reaching the finish line, I saw the time. I was so excited."
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Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa celebrates after winning the women's elite race on Sunday at the London Marathon.
Pushed by Kejelcha, Sawe ran a reverse split to defend his London Marathon title. After reaching the halfway point in 1:00.29, he needed just 59:01 to complete his second 13.1 miles.
Sawe wasn't the only racer to set a world record in London on Sunday. Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa needed just 2:15.41 to break the tape, which placed her in the record books — again — for a marathon run only by women. Last year in London, she ran the marathon in a record 2:15:50.
