Global leaders, athletes hail Sawe's historic marathon record

Tributes and messages of congratulations poured in from Kenyan leaders, athletes and fans after Kenyan long-distance runner Sabastian Sawe delivered a historic performance at the London Marathon with a time of 1:59:30, an achievement widely hailed as a breakthrough that is redefining the limits of human endurance in marathon running.

The landmark run, achieved under official race conditions, eclipsed the previous world record of 2:00:35 set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023 and marked the first time a marathon has been completed in under two hours in a competitive setting.

Kenyan President William Ruto called the performance "history made" and congratulated Sawe for "smashing the two-hour marathon barrier", adding that the achievement had cemented the country's place as a global athletics powerhouse.

In a statement on Sunday, the president lauded Sawe, describing the victory as a defining moment in global athletics. He said the athlete's performance was of rare brilliance that pushed the boundaries of human endurance.

"We celebrate you, Sabastian Sawe, for a performance of rare brilliance at the London Marathon. You have not only claimed a historic victory; you have redrawn the limits of human endurance, smashing the world record and breaking the two-hour barrier with extraordinary resolve," he said.

Other Kenyan leaders and public figures also joined in celebrating the milestone, describing the run as a moment of "African greatness on the world stage" and a source of national pride.

Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge, who famously broke the two-hour mark under controlled conditions in 2019, hailed the performance as a historic turning point for the sport, saying it showed that the long-sought barrier is now within reach in official competition.

"Seeing two athletes break the magical two-hour barrier… proves we are just at the beginning of what is possible," Kipchoge said, congratulating both Sawe and Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha, who finished second in 1:59:41 to become the fastest debutant and second-fastest marathoner in history.

For Sawe, the victory marked the culmination of years of steady progression in long-distance running. Speaking after the race, he dedicated the achievement to the wider running community, saying the moment belonged not just to him but to all those who had supported the journey.

"I think I've made history today in London, and for the new generation (it shows) to run a record is possible," Sawe said in an interview after the race. "It depends on the preparation you had and the discipline you had, so for me I think I have shown them that nothing is impossible."