Sebastian Sawe of Kenya won the 2026 London Marathon in 1 hour 59 minutes 30 seconds, becoming the first person to break the two-hour barrier in an official marathon race and setting a new world record.
The race took place on Sunday, April 26, 2026, under ideal weather conditions in London. Sawe’s time surpassed the previous world record of 2 hours 0 minutes 35 seconds set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in October 2023 by 65 seconds.
Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia, making his marathon debut, finished second in 1 hour 59 minutes 41 seconds, becoming the second person ever to run under two hours in a sanctioned race. Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda took third in 2 hours 0 minutes 28 seconds, meaning all three podium finishers ran faster than Kiptum’s former record.
Sawe passed the halfway mark in 1 hour 0 minute 29 seconds, putting him on world-record pace, and then accelerated in the second half, completing it in 59 minutes 1 second. His final 10-kilometre surge left only Kejelcha able to follow.
Kiptum, who died in a road accident in Kenya at age 24 shortly after setting his record, had previously held the mark. Sawe, aged 31 according to RTHK and 30 according to Yahoo News, had won the London Marathon the previous year in 2 hours 2 minutes 27 seconds and had said breaking Kiptum’s record was only a matter of time.
Eliud Kipchoge ran under two hours in 2019 under controlled conditions, but that effort did not count as an official world record due to non-standard pacing and hydration rules.
Sawe has undergone frequent drug testing to ensure credibility, including 25 tests before the Berlin Marathon, and credited the crowd’s energy for helping him push through fatigue in the final stretch.
Sawe’s tactical shift in the final 10 kilometres decided the race
After maintaining even splits through 30 kilometres, Sawe increased his pace dramatically between the 30 and 40 kilometre marks, dropping his segment times to 13 minutes 54 seconds and then 13 minutes 42 seconds. This acceleration left Kejelcha as the only runner able to respond.
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Kejelcha’s debut performance marks a generational shift in distance running
At his first marathon attempt, Kejelcha not only secured second place but also became the first debutant in history to run under two hours, signalling the rapid emergence of new talent from Ethiopia’s high-altitude training groups.
Kiplimo’s third-place finish reinforces East Africa’s continued dominance
Jacob Kiplimo, the half-marathon world record holder, ran 2 hours 0 minutes 28 seconds to claim third, demonstrating that the depth of talent in Uganda and neighbouring countries remains strong enough to challenge even historic benchmarks.
Contrast between controlled and official sub-two-hour runs remains
While Kipchoge’s 2019 INEOS 1:59 Challenge showed the physiological possibility of breaking two hours, Sawe’s London run proves it can be achieved under standard race regulations with variable pacing, weather, and competition.
What made Sawe’s second half faster than his first?
Sawe ran the second half in 59 minutes 1 second, which is faster than his first half of 1 hour 0 minute 29 seconds, due to a deliberate tactical increase in pace after 30 kilometres that only Kejelcha could match.
Why doesn’t Kipchoge’s 2019 run count as an official world record?
Kipchoge’s 2019 sub-two-hour effort used rotating pacemakers, scheduled hydration, and other non-standard aids that violate World Athletics rules for record eligibility, making it a demonstration rather than a ratified race.
How old is Sebastian Sawe?
Sources differ slightly: RTHK lists him as 31 years old, while Yahoo News states he is 30; both agree he is Kenyan and won the 2026 London Marathon in record time.
What is significant about Kejelcha finishing second?
Kejelcha, running his first marathon, became the second person in history to break two hours in an official race and the first debutant ever to do so, highlighting the accelerating pace of development in men’s distance running.
