Kenya's Sabastian Sawe became the first athlete to complete a marathon in under two hours in race conditions, finishing in 1 hour 59 minutes 30 seconds on April 26, 2026, in London [1]. Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha also finished the race in under two hours, marking a historic moment in marathon running [1].
Sawe paid $50,000 to undergo 25 voluntary drug tests by the Athletics Integrity Unit before the 2025 Berlin race to address doping concerns that have challenged Kenyan long-distance running [1]. Former Kenyan London Marathon champions Wilson Kipsang and Daniel Wanjiru were banned for doping violations, adding scrutiny to Sawe's achievement [1].
Upon returning to Kenya on April 29, Sawe was welcomed with a hero’s reception at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and State House Nairobi by President William Ruto [1]. President Ruto called Sawe's feat a defining moment in human endurance, comparing it to Roger Bannister’s four-minute mile and the moon landing. He said, "Future generations will look back on 26 April, 2026, as the day a man broke through a physical and psychological barrier long thought insurmountable; and the name forever attached to that moment will be Sabastian Sawe" [1].
Sawe said of his record, "I didn’t do it just for myself, I did it for all of us. And I would like us all to enjoy it and for it to stand as a record for all of us" [1].
His sub-two-hour finish sets a new standard in marathon running, with Sawe’s time officially recorded at 1:59:30. The next major milestone will be closely watched at upcoming races where Sawe and other elite runners seek to challenge marathon limits further [1].