The history of athletics changed dramatically this Sunday on the streets of London.
Kenyan Sebastian Sawe, 29, became the first athlete to officially break the two-hour barrier in the marathon, winning the race in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds. A feat once considered impossible, it marks a turning point in the history of sport.
By shattering the men's world record by 65 seconds , Sawe not only made history in athletics, but also ran an exceptional race. Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia also crossed the finish line in under two hours (1 hour 59 minutes 41 seconds) in his first marathon, while Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo broke the previous world record (2 hours 0 minutes 28 seconds), set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023.
What’s happening today isn’t just for me, but for all of us here in London today. It’s a memorable day for me,” said a visibly moved Sawe, thanking the crowd that carried him to victory. “I think they help me a lot. Without them, you wouldn’t feel so loved… When they cheer me on, I feel so happy and strong.”
A strategic and spectacular performance
Sawe accelerated as the kilometers ticked by, covering the second half of the marathon in 59 minutes and 1 second. After breaking away with Kejelcha from the 30km mark, he took the lead solo in the final two kilometers, sprinting to the finish line on The Mall to the cheers of the crowd.
Although Eliud Kipchoge had already broken the two-hour barrier in 2019 at the "1:59 Challenge" in Vienna, this performance was not officially recognized due to the special conditions of the race (optimized course, rotating pacemakers). Sawe, however, achieved this feat on an official course, in dry and sunny weather, without any special assistance.
"The benchmarks have literally just changed for the marathon," commented Paula Radcliffe, former women's record holder in London, during her comments for the BBC.
In the women's race, Ethiopian Tigst Assefa won the marathon in 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 41 seconds, setting the fastest time ever recorded in a women's-only race. In wheelchair racing, Switzerland achieved a one-two finish: Marcel Hug won his eighth title (sixth consecutive) in the men's event, while Catherine Debrunner defended her title in the women's event after a close finish against Tatyana McFadden.
