LONDON, UK – Kenyan marathoner Sabastian Sawe has finally opened up about his new record at the 2026 London Marathon.
Sawe became the first man to run a marathon in under two hours, breaking the world record with a time of 1:59:30.
He broke the world record of 2:00:35 held by the late athlete Kelvin Kiptum. Asked how much faster he thinks he could have gone during yesterday’s race, Sawe told BBC Sport that “even 1:58, 1:59 is possible”.
“I hope that in the future, we will run much faster. It is possible to run faster than yesterday,” Sawe said during the interview.
According to BBC Sport, Sawe said he started the race and finished it strongly.
“We started the race well, and approaching the end of finishing the race, I was feeling strong. I am so happy,” he said.
Paula Radcliffe reacts to Sebastian Sawe’s victory
While reacting to Sawe’s sub-two-hour marathon that has since been ratified by the Guinness World Record, London Marathon legend Paula Radcliffe said history had been made.
“We have literally witnessed history being made. It is an iconic barrier that has been discussed for a long time now. I am trying to remember how long we have been discussing whether it is even possible. If it can be done?” said Paula.
Paula recalled Eliud Kipchoge’s ‘Breaking2’ event, which Sawe beat in what she described as a proper race.
“And that kind of really pushed the boundaries to help them try and help them break through those two hours to show that it is possible. Maybe that is what paved the way for Sawe to be able to do it today,” added Paula.
Paula further attributed Sawe’s victory to being in shape and the gradual improvements in the shoe technologies.
“The new shoe technologies are helping, but great conditions, a brilliant course, and the best crowd in the world are out there, and they just timed it to perfection and produced it,” added Paula.
Sebastian Sawe triumphed in Seville
Having never competed on the road, the Kenyan began the 2022 Seville half-marathon as a pacemaker, proceeded to drop everybody within the first 10km, and carried on to claim victory in a course record time.
Running the second-fastest marathon debut in history in Valencia in 2024, Sawe again hinted at his potential. That time of two hours, two minutes, and five seconds was only 12 seconds slower than the late Kelvin Kiptum’s first marathon two years earlier, before Kiptum went on to break the world record in Chicago in 2023.
But they were far from sufficient to prepare anyone for the momentous occasion which unfolded on a perfect April morning in London on Sunday. Sporting immortality, secured in 1:59:30.
The great Eliud Kipchoge became the first man to run a marathon in under two hours in 2019, on a course with only 2.4 metres of incline, which was not record-eligible as it was held under controlled conditions.
Inside the Adidas Adios Pro 3 shoes
Even more astonishing in London was that debutant Yomif Kejelcha also went sub-two, and half-marathon world record holder Jacob Kiplimo also beat Kiptum’s former record.
At the finish line, Sawe held up sponsor Adidas’ latest ‘supershoe’ with his time written along the side, acknowledging the technology which had assisted him.
The Adidas Adios Pro 3 shoes, available to purchase for an eye-watering £450, weigh just 99 g – 30% lighter than the previous model.
The company claims they deliver an 11% greater forefoot energy return and improve running economy by 1.6% compared to their predecessor.
Tigst Assefa also wore the shoes in breaking the women-only record on Sunday.
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