Kenya's Sawe feted by president after historic sub-two hour marathon

NAIROBI — Kenyan marathon runner Sebastian Sawe was honored by President William Ruto on Thursday after becoming the first athlete to complete an official marathon in under two hours.

Sawe clocked 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds at the London Marathon on Sunday, breaking one of athletics’ most elusive barriers and improving the previous world record by more than one minute.

Upon his arrival at Nairobi’s international airport late Wednesday, Sawe was welcomed with a traditional water-cannon salute. He was later received at State House, where Ruto awarded him 8 million Kenyan shillings ($62,064) in recognition of his achievement.

“You have not only broken a record. You have expanded the horizon of human potential,” Ruto said during a ceremony attended by government officials and athletics representatives. “You have done what many believed could not be done. You have made the impossible possible, and in doing so, you have inspired a nation and the world.”

The previous official world record of 2:00:35 was set by fellow Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum at the Chicago Marathon in October 2023. Kiptum died in a car crash in 2024.

Another Kenyan great, Eliud Kipchoge, famously broke the two-hour barrier in a specially staged event in 2019, but the run was not recognized as an official record.

Sawe made his marathon debut with a victory in Valencia in December 2024 and has remained unbeaten in the distance since. -Reporting by Vincent Mumo Nzilani; Editing by Kate Mayberry/Reuters