Sawe: I’ll shatter my record

Sabastian Sawe is the talk of world athletics right now by being the first to run a marathon under two hours at the annual London Marathon on Sunday.  That milestone world record was thought impossible until a few years ago. 

The Kenyan finished in 1 hour 59 minutes 30 seconds, just 11 seconds ahead of Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha, who was making his marathon debut.  Kejelcha and third-placed Jacob Kiplimo from Uganda both joined Sawe in breaking the previous world marathon record time of 2:00:35. That was set in Chicago in 2023 by Kelvin Kiptum, who died in a car crash two years ago.

Despite the amazing run Sawe, 31, insists he can improve the record. “It was possible to run faster yesterday,” he said. “Even 1:58 is possible.”

Sawe, born in Kenya’s Rift Valley, where his father worked as a maize farmer,

plans to race again in the autumn, although he has not decided where. It will probably be in Berlin in September, which is a faster course than London.

Like many world-class East African runners, Sawe’s career began in childhood.  “I started running back in primary school. But I mostly focused on studies first. But in my mind, I knew one day I will be a champion and it came true. Because finally, I’m a champion.”

His post-race celebration was a modest one. “I didn’t drink anything to celebrate, just water,” said Sawe, who is teetotal. “I ate rice and a piece of chicken for dinner. It was very simple.”

He was due to fly back to Nairobi on a Kenya Airways flight on Monday, but because of his world record went to Germany and the headquarters of his sponsors, Adidas, to celebrate.

Sawe thanked them for paying the Athletics Integrity Unit $50,000 a year to ensure he is drug tested more, which he hopes will make people trust his performances.

“We came up with this idea, and I really like it, because doping has become a cancer in my country,” he said. “And we said – from the ­management of my company, my coaches and also the whole group – we must get rid of doubts for individual results.”