Sebastian Sawe to defend marathon world record at Berlin after historic sub‑2 hour London win

Kenyan runner Sebastian Sawe became the first athlete to complete an official marathon in under two hours, finishing the London Marathon on 26 April 2026 in 1:59:30. His performance was highlighted by a final‑mile surge that left him ahead of Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who also broke the two‑hour barrier, and Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, who finished just over two hours. Sawe credited his Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 shoes for their lightweight carbon‑fiber design.

Following the London achievement, Sawe confirmed he will return to the Berlin Marathon on 27 September 2026, seeking to improve his time on the flat, record‑friendly course. He said, “I will prepare as best as possible to honor this great event and run as fast as possible.” Sawe previously ran Berlin in 2025 in 2:02:16 despite warm temperatures. The 2026 edition is expected to attract around 60 000 athletes from 160 countries, and the fast circuit has hosted nine men's world‑record performances.

Sawe’s sub‑two‑hour marathon marks a milestone in the sport and sets the stage for another potential record attempt in Berlin.