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Important update on 1476AMKenyan shatters marathon record in London
AP • April 27th, 2026 9:21 am
Sabastian Sawe | Photo: AP
Sabastian Sawe of Kenya has become the first person to break the fabled two-hour barrier in the marathon.
In a huge moment in sports history, Sawe smashed the men's world record by 65 seconds in winning the London Marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds on Monday (NZ time).
The second-place finisher, Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia, also broke two hours by crossing the line in 1.59:41 - remarkably in his first marathon.
And third-placed Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda also broke the previous world-record time - set by Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in 2023 - by seven seconds in finishing in 2.00:28.
The 29-year-old Sawe, who retained his title in London, thanked the huge crowds who lined the streets of the British capital to cheer him on.
"What comes today is not for me alone," Sawe said, "but for all of us today in London."
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"I think I've made history today in London, and for the new generation it shows to run a record is possible.
"It depends on the preparation you had and the discipline you had, so for me I think I have shown them that nothing is impossible.
"Everything is possible with a matter of time.
"It's something not to be forgotten, something to be remembered, and it will remain in my mind forever."
In an exhilarating sight, Sawe ran the second half of the marathon in 59 minutes and 1 second, pulling clear with Kejelcha after 30km and then making his solo break in the final two kilometres as he sprinted along the finish on The Mall.
A record was also set in the women's race, with Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa pulling away with some 500 meters remaining to win in 2:15:41, defending her title with the fastest time recorded in a women's-only marathon.
However, it was 16 seconds slower than the course record set by Paula Radcliffe in 2003 when it was a mixed race.
In the wheelchair races, there was a Swiss double with Marcel Hug powering to a sixth straight men's title – and eighth in total – and Catherine Debrunner beating Tatyana McFadden in a close finish to defend the title.
