Who is Sabastian Sawe? The incredible rise of marathon running’s history maker

Sabastian Sawe will now be forever associated with marathon history after he became the first person to break the two-hour mark for 26.2 miles in a competitive race at the 2026 London Marathon.

But even before his ground-breaking achievement, the Kenyan was racking up the records since moving up to the marathon distance in late 2024.

That was at the Valencia Marathon in Spain, where his time of 2:02:05 was the fastest that year and – at the time – the fifth best in history.

Still unbeaten at marathon distance

Just a few months after Valencia, Sawe raced in London for the first time in April 2026 against an incredible field which included the legendary Eliud Kipchoge.

And despite the hot conditions he breezed to his second victory from as many races in a time of 2:02:27.

It was then three from three as he added a win at the Berlin Marathon five months later in 2:02:05.

That meant the 31-year-old came into London 2026 unbeaten and the favourite against what was another stacked elite men’s line up.

But to knock nearly three minutes off his PB and more than a minute off the world record was simply astonishing.

Half marathon PB is 58:05

Prior to stepping up to the marathon, Sawe showed immense talent over the half marathon distance.

In 2023, he won the half marathon at the inaugural World Athletics World Road Running Championships and has wins in Copenhagen, Prague, Berlin, Rome and Sevilla to his name.

His half marathon PB of 58:05, set in winning in Copenhagen last year, is the ninth-fastest half marathon time in history.  

Just to put what he has just done into context – he was less than a minute off that 58:05 with his time of 59:01 for the second half in London!

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