Sebastian Sawe made history on Sunday morning at the London Marathon, becoming the first man to complete a marathon under two hours in official race conditions while defending his title for a second consecutive year.
Record-Breaking Performance
The 31-year-old Kenyan, known in his training camp as the “Silent Assassin”, completed the 26.2-mile (42.2 kilometre) course in 1:59:30, breaking the long-standing barrier that had eluded competitive racing and setting a new world record in the process. At the finish, he held up an Adidas trainer with the time written on it in pen, marking the moment. It was only Sawe’s fifth career marathon, yet he controlled the race and crossed the line well clear in what was described as an outrageous performance.
Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha also dipped under the two-hour mark to finish second in 1:59:41 on The Mall, while Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo placed third in 2:00:28.
World Record Details
Sawe’s time erased 35 seconds from the previous official world record of 2:00:35 set by the late Kelvin Kiptum at the 2023 Chicago Marathon, and placed him just 10 seconds faster than the unofficial 1:59:40 recorded by Eliud Kipchoge in 2019 under controlled conditions.
Prize Money and Earnings
Sawe’s earnings from the race come from a mix of base prize money and a range of performance bonuses, creating a life-changing payout. The base prize for winning the elite men’s race stands at $55,000 (approximately £40,000). On top of that, he qualified for every major performance bonus available:
- $150,000 (around £111,000) for finishing under 2:02:00
- $125,000 (around £92,000) for breaking the world record
- $25,000 (around £18,500) for setting a London course record
That brings his confirmed prize pot to $355,000, roughly £263,000. Additional reports suggest that when sponsorship clauses and commercial bonuses are factored in, Sawe could earn up to $1 million from the achievement. An Adidas athlete, he set the record wearing the Adios Pro Evo 3 shoes, which retail at around £450.
Across the event, prize money scales down from $55,000 for the winner to around $30,000 (£24,000) for second place and approximately $1,000 (£800) for 12th place.
Plans for the Money
Sawe has already made clear that his first priority is his family in Kenya. He plans to build a house and buy a car for them so they no longer have to walk, as well as fund the completion of a local church and support travel abroad for relatives. His father, Simion, told the BBC via a translator: “The truth is, he promised us that he is going to build us a house. And he said he would buy a car. So we won’t be walking on foot anymore. He also promised he would finish building the church here – and that he would help us fly abroad.”
The family watched the race from rural western Kenya, where his mother Emily said she “jumped around the house” and was “so happy” as he crossed the line. They are planning larger celebrations once he returns home as a world record holder.
Race and Sawe’s Words
Around 59,000 runners took part in the London Marathon, but the focus quickly narrowed to the front of the men’s race as Sawe built and held his lead. He credited the London crowd after the finish, telling Gabby Logan on the BBC: “First of all, I want to thank the crowds. They help a lot. They helped a lot. You feel so happy and strong and pushing. What comes for me today is not for me alone but all of us in London.”
Sawe’s preparation on the day was notably simple, saying he was fuelled by “two slices of bread with ham and cups of tea” before the race.
Context Behind the Performance
Sawe had previously worked as a pacemaker at the 2022 Seville half-marathon before rising rapidly through the ranks, and this latest win marks a second straight London Marathon title. For years, the two-hour marathon barrier was viewed as out of reach in official competition. Sawe not only broke it, but did so convincingly, with another runner also dipping below the mark on the same day. The result stands as one of the most significant performances in long-distance running, both for the time itself and for the shift it represents in what is considered achievable under race conditions.
