Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe became the first athlete in history to break the two-hour barrier in an official marathon, winning the TCS London Marathon on Sunday in a world-record time of 1:59:30.
Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha finished second on his debut in 1:59:41, making this the first race ever to see two men finish under two hours.
Sawe, 31, sliced 65 seconds off the previous world record of 2:00:35 set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in 2023. He hit the halfway mark in 1:00:29 before unleashing an extraordinary negative split, running the second half in 59:01. The performance came on the 46th edition of the London Marathon, one of the world’s six Abbott World Marathon Majors, on a clear spring day through the British capital.
World Athletics ratified the times as legal because the race followed standard competition rules with no special pacing assistance beyond what is allowed in elite events. Sawe defended his 2025 London title and now owns the fastest marathon time ever recorded under official conditions.
This is probably the most impressive athletic feat ever
— Nick Bateman (@nickbateman33) April 26, 2026
Averaging a 4 minute mile for 26 straight miles should not be possible pic.twitter.com/rPB37NAUa0
The breakthrough caps years of incremental gains in marathon performance, following Eliud Kipchoge’s 1:59:40 exhibition run in Vienna in 2019. Sunday’s result is expected to spark renewed debate about the limits of human endurance and the role of shoe technology and course conditions.
Tens of thousands of recreational runners also took part, turning the streets of London into a festival of endurance.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Sunday’s result is expected to spark renewed debate about the limits of human endurance and the role of shoe technology and course conditions.
Sunday’s result is expected to spark renewed debate about the limits of human endurance and the role of shoe technology and course conditions.
