What happened at the London Marathon? Sabastian Sawe breaks two-hour barrier with historic win marked a defining moment in endurance running as the Kenyan athlete became the first person to complete a competitive marathon in under two hours. The milestone was achieved during the London Marathon on Sunday, April 26, 2026, under ideal weather conditions, reshaping the limits of human performance in athletics.
Historic performance redefines marathon limits
Sawe crossed the finish line near Buckingham Palace in 1:59:30, finishing just 11 seconds ahead of Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who was competing in his first marathon. Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo secured third place, with all three runners surpassing the previous world record of 2:00:35 set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023.
The achievement stands apart from Eliud Kipchoge’s 2019 sub-two-hour run, which took place under controlled, non-competitive conditions. Sawe’s record is the first to occur in an official race setting, making it a landmark in marathon history.
Women’s race also sees record-breaking performance
In the women’s competition, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa set a new world record with a time of 2:15:41, surpassing her own previous mark established at the same event. Her performance further highlighted the accelerating pace of elite marathon competition.
Role of advanced running technology
Recent advances in running shoe technology have played a significant role in these performances. Both Sawe and Assefa wore Adidas Adizero Pro Evo 3, part of the “supershoe” category that has transformed long-distance racing since the debut of Nike Vaporfly in 2017. These ultralight shoes, weighing approximately 97 grams, are designed for maximum efficiency and are typically used only once in elite competition.
Growing global interest in marathon running
The 2026 London Marathon saw more than 59,000 participants, setting a new participation record and reflecting a continued surge in global interest in endurance sports. Organizers reported over 1.1 million applicants, signaling unprecedented demand. Discussions are underway to expand the event into a two-day format, potentially allowing more than 100,000 runners to take part in future editions.
