Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe etched his name into history Sunday by becoming the first man to finish a marathon under two hours.
The 31-year-old phenom crossed the London finish line at 1:59:30, dismantling the previous world record with a relentless, rhythmic pace.
His historic victory shatters the 2:00:35 mark set by the late Kelvin Kiptum during the 2023 Chicago Marathon.
The asphalt became a stage for a breathtaking duel as Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha shadowed Sawe until the final agonizing stretch.
Kejelcha claimed silver in an astonishing 1:59:41, while Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo secured the bronze medal with a time of 2:02:28.
The achievement carries a bittersweet resonance, following the tragic loss of former record-holder Kiptum in a 2024 car accident.
In the women’s field, Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia showcased her dominance by breaking her own women’s-only world record today.
Assefa surged past her Kenyan rivals in the closing moments to clock 2:15:41, shaving nine seconds off her previous best.
Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei followed in a cinematic sprint, taking silver and bronze in a fiercely contested podium race.
Switzerland swept the wheelchair events as Marcel Hug secured his eighth London title and Catherine Debrunner claimed her third consecutive.
This year’s race transforms the 42.195-kilometer distance from a grueling test of endurance into a frontier of human potential.
The barrier once thought impossible has fallen, leaving the sporting world to marvel at this new era of speed.