Sabastian Sawe
Kenyan long-distance runner (born 1995)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sabastian Kimaru Sawe (born 16 March 1995) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who holds the world record in the marathon. Sawe made his debut at the 2024 Valencia Marathon, winning in 2:02:05. At the 2026 London Marathon, he became the first person to run a sub-two-hour marathon in a record-eligible race, setting a world record of 1:59:30.
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Sawe running the 2025 Berlin Marathon | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Sabastian Kimaru Sawe |
| Born | 16 March 1995[1] Barsombe, Kenya |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
Event | Long-distance running |
| Team | Adidas |
Medal record | |
Early life and background
Sawe was born in the village of Barsombe in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya (today in Uasin Gishu County) to a father who worked as a maize farmer.[2][3] He was primarily raised by his grandmother.[3] Sawe grew up in a house without electricity.[4] He attended St Patrick's High School in Iten. He is married with three sons.[5]
Career
Sawe's uncle Abraham Chepkirwok was national record holder in Uganda over 800m and Sawe himself ran over the middle-distances initially, and only ran 5000 metres for the first time in 2019 in serendipitous circumstances having arrived late for an athletics meet; with that distance the only race available. He won it in 13:56. Through his uncle's contacts he began to train with Abel Mutai, a former peer of Chepkirwok and an assistant coach at the 2Running Club, based in Nandi County and founded by Claudio Berardelli. However, in March 2020 he ruptured a tendon and his race time became limited and later he missed his international debut: pacing teammate Amos Kipruto at the 2020 Valencia Marathon after he failed a Covid test.[2]
Breakthrough
In January 2022, Sawe finished his first half marathon in Seville in 59:02, despite initially starting the race as a pacemaker.[2] In March 2022, Sawe set a course record at the Rome-Ostia Half Marathon in a time of 58:02 (a non-record eligible course).[6] He set a then half marathon best of 58:58 from his win at the 2022 Bahrain Royal Night Half Marathon.[7]
In September 2022, Sawe set a Kenyan national record in the one hour run at the Memorial Van Damme with a distance of 21,250 metres, narrowly missing the world record.[8] Sawe finished seventh in the senior men's race at the 2023 World Cross Country Championships.[9][10] In December 2023, he won the 15 kilometres road race Montferland Run held in 's-Heerenberg in the Netherlands with a time of 42:35.[11] In September 2024, Sawe won the Copenhagen Half Marathon in a new personal best of 58:05.[12] On 1 December 2024, he won the Valencia Marathon in a world-leading time of 2:02:05.[13] On 27 April 2025, Sawe won the London Marathon in a leading time of 2:02:27.[14]
This was followed in September 2025 with a win at the Berlin Marathon, with a time of 2:02:16.[15] In response to doping violations from other Kenyan athletes, Sawe underwent an unprecedented 25 out-of-competition drug tests from the AIU to combat suspicions of doping in the buildup to winning the Berlin Marathon.[16]
London Marathon world record
On 26 April 2026, Sawe became the first person to complete a competitive marathon in under two hours when he won the London Marathon in 1:59:30.[17] A previous sub-two-hour run by Eliud Kipchoge in the Ineos 1:59 Challenge in 2019 was not recognised as a valid record as it was not achieved under race conditions.[18] Sawe's run was also ten seconds faster than Kipchoge's and 65 seconds faster than the previous official record held by Kelvin Kiptum.[19] Sawe's former personal best was set in his debut Marathon in Valencia in 2024 with a time of 2:02:05.[20]
The women's former world record holder Paula Radcliffe stated: "We've witnessed history being made, but it is more than that. It is an iconic barrier that there has been this discussion over for a long time about whether it is even possible."[3] Former world record holder and twice Olympic champion in the men's Marathon Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya stated: "My deepest congratulations to both Sabastian Sawe and Yomif Kejelcha. Breaking the sub-two-hour barrier in the marathon has long been a dream for runners everywhere, and today you've made that dream come true."[3]
The race saw 800,000 spectators. The last time a men's world record was set in London was in 2002. Kelvin Kiptum formerly set the course record with 2:01:25. In preparation for the race, Sawe ran on average 200 km a week in the 6 weeks leading up to the run. His distance trained peaked at 241km a week. Sawe's running shoes for this race were a new lightweight model of super shoe – the Pro Evo 3 from Adidas which weigh just 97 grams (3.4 oz) on average.[21] The prize money for Sawe's win was £740,000.[citation needed]
Achievements
- Marathons
- 1st place, 2024 Valencia Marathon – 2:02:05[22]
- 1st place, 2025 London Marathon – 2:02:27[23]
- 1st place, 2025 Berlin Marathon – 2:02:16[15]
- 1st place, 2026 London Marathon – 1:59:30[24]
- Personal bests[1]
- 10,000 metres – 27:09.46 (Maia 2022)
- 15,000 metres – 41:51.64 (Brussels 2022) WB
- 20,000 metres – 56:20.55 (Brussels 2022) AB
- One hour run – 21,250 metres (Brussels 2022) NR
- 10K run – 26:49 (Herzogenaurach 2023), 5th fastest athlete of all time
- 15K run – 42:35 ('s-Heerenberg 2023)
- Half marathon – 58:05 (Copenhagen 2024)
- Marathon – 1:59:30 (London 2026) WR
- Circuit wins
- Diamond League
- 2022: Brussels Memorial Van Damme (One hour run)[1]
