Sebastian Sawe, who broke the world marathon record, was honored with a special ceremony this Thursday in his native Kenya. The athlete was received by the President of the Republic, William Ruto, who presented him with a prize of $61,000 and a car.
He received a triumphant welcome upon his return to Kenya. Sebastian Sawe, who broke the world marathon record, was honored with a special ceremony this Thursday in his native country.
He was received by the President of the Republic, William Ruto, who presented him with a reward of $61,000 and a car.
What I achieved in London was for all of us. To make the name of our country shine, to keep it shining, and this is a moment of joy for all of us ," said Sebastian Sawe, winner of the London Marathon and world record holder for the marathon, to the press.
At 31, he became the first athlete to officially break the two-hour marathon barrier. He autographed and presented President Ruto with the pair of Adidas Adizero shoes he wore during Sunday's marathon. He also autographed a photo of the moment he broke the world record.
"To understand the magnitude of this moment and this achievement, we must place it on the same level as the great milestones in human history. When Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969, and when Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mile barrier on May 6, 1954. Feats that were once thought to be beyond human reach. These moments did far more than break records. They redefined the very notion of possibility ," said President William Ruto.
Sebastian Sawe made history on Sunday by winning the race in one hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds, beating the previous men's world record by 65 seconds.
