Kenya's Sawe Breaks Two-Hour Marathon Barrier in London

For the first time in history, a human has officially run a marathon in under two hours.

Kenya's Sabastian Sawe crossed the finish line at the London Marathon in 1:59:30, shattering the previous world record by more than a minute. Just 11 seconds behind him, Yomif Kejelcha became the second person ever to break the two-hour barrier at 1:59:41.

The achievement becomes even more remarkable when you consider the pace. Sawe maintained 4 minutes and 33 seconds per mile across all 26.2 miles, averaging 13.16 miles per hour. Most recreational runners can't hold that speed for a single mile.

Third-place finisher Jacob Kiplimo also beat the previous world record with a time of 2:00:28. In a single race, the top three spots all surpassed what was considered humanly possible just days before.

For Kejelcha, the London Marathon was his first marathon ever. When jokingly asked before the race if he'd run 1:59, the 31-year-old laughed it off: "I don't think so. In my first marathon it is not possible."

Kiplimo celebrated his competitors after the race. "We are always brothers, so we always need to be happy," he said. "When someone does something, you have to congratulate them." Asked if he could go sub-two hours next, he smiled: "I think everything is possible because now no human is limited."

Sawe's preparation might surprise nutrition-focused athletes. His breakfast the morning of his historic run? Two pieces of toast, honey, and tea. The next day, he told ITV News his body wasn't even sore and believes a time of 1:59:00 is within reach.

Why This Inspires

The women's race was equally groundbreaking. Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa broke her own world record, finishing in 2:15:41 and shaving nine seconds off her previous mark.

This made the 2026 London Marathon the only race in history where both the men's and women's world records fell on the same day. Since 2011, Kenyan athletes have reset the men's marathon record six times, dropping it from 2:03:59 to Sawe's stunning 1:59:30.

Assefa's secret? "I've trained hard, and because of all the hard work I've put in, I've achieved this level of success," she said simply.

The achievement shows what happens when talent, dedication, and belief in what's possible come together on the same course on the same day.