Sabastian Sawe breaks two‑hour barrier at London Marathon

Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe set a new world record at the London Marathon on 26 April, finishing in 1:59:30 and becoming the first athlete to officially break the two‑hour barrier. Sawe achieved the feat wearing Adidas lightweight, carbon‑plated Adizero shoes and sustained an extraordinary carbohydrate intake of about 115 g per hour throughout the race.

Experts note that advances in shoe technology, particularly carbon‑plate designs, have been pivotal in recent marathon performances. While some commentators have labeled such equipment as “mechanical doping,” the article argues the shoes primarily enable better training and efficiency rather than providing an unfair advantage. The performance also highlights the continued importance of nutrition, as high‑carbohydrate feeding helped prevent hypoglycaemia and supported endurance.

The achievement follows Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha’s close second‑place finish in 1:59:41, underscoring the rapid progression of elite marathon times and prompting renewed discussion on the limits of human endurance.