Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe has made athletics history by winning the 2026 London Marathon and becoming the first man to complete a marathon in under two hours under legal race conditions.

Axar.az reports that Sawe stormed to victory on Sunday, finishing the 42.2km course in 1:59:30, breaking the previous world record of 2:00:35 set by fellow Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum in 2023.

The performance marks a historic milestone in long-distance running, shattering the long-standing two-hour barrier once thought to be beyond reach.

The race produced an unprecedented result, with both the winner and runner-up finishing inside the two-hour mark. Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha crossed the line in 1:59:41, also entering the record books, while Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo finished third in 2:00:28.

Speaking after his victory, Sawe described the moment as unforgettable. “I am so happy, it is a day to remember for me,” he said. “We started the race well, and approaching the end I was feeling strong. Seeing the time at the finish line made me so excited to run a world record.”

He also credited the London crowd for driving his performance, adding that the achievement was “not for me alone but for all of us in London.”

Sawe, who also won the London Marathon in 2025, said he had targeted improvement on last year’s winning time of 2:02:27 but did not anticipate breaking the two-hour barrier.

With multiple athletes now dipping under the previous world record in the same race, the London Marathon has delivered one of the most extraordinary performances in distance running history, subject to official ratification by World Athletics.