appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Sabastian Sawe said he was living proof “nothing is impossible” after becoming the first athlete to break the two-hour barrier in an official competition to win the London Marathon in a world record 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds.
The Kenyan defended his 2025 title, beating debutant Yomif Kejelcha by 11 seconds. The Ethiopian runner-up also crossed the line in an astonishing 1:59:41 hours, while Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda finished third in 2:00:28.
All three were faster than the previous official world record of 2:00:35 set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in 2023, while Sawe’s time was also 10 seconds faster than the unofficial 1:59:40 set by Eliud Kipchoge in a 2019 exhibition.
“I think I’ve made history today in London, and for the new generation [it shows] to run a record is possible,” Sawe said. “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.
“Everything is possible with a matter of time. I was ready today. I was well-prepared for the London Marathon and for today’s results. I’m so happy because I had a lot of courage to push, even when the pace was fast.
“It’s something not to be forgotten, something to be remembered, and it will remain in my mind forever.”

London Marathon Events CEO Hugh Brasher said: “It is, without doubt, the greatest day in London Marathon history.
“People said that Sir Roger Bannister’s mile was the greatest sporting moment of the 20th century. Is this the greatest sporting moment of the 21st century? I don’t know, but it was just brilliant.”
Sawe and Kejelcha were both sporting the same footwear, the 97-gram Adidas Pro Evo 3s, which, even before defending his London title, Sawe predicted could be a record-breaking pair.
The 31-year-old has been on a mission to prove his races are clean. Last year, Sawe and his team at Adidas approached the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), volunteering him for a strict regime of extra drug tests – 25 of them, all unannounced – before he won the Berlin Marathon.
Kejelcha, the newly crowned fastest debutant in marathon history, felt that commitment was a brilliant way to preserve the integrity of the sport.
“It’s very important for clean sport,” he said. “Maybe I, for the future, will do the same thing. I think it’s a great idea.”
There was also a new standard set in the women’s race, won by Tigst Assefa, who defended her London Marathon crown in a women’s-only world record 2:15:41 – like Sawe’s, subject to ratification.
Assefa beat the standard she set when she won last year in London, finding a final kick as Buckingham Palace came into view to beat Kenya’s Hellen Obiri, who crossed in 2:15:53, and Joyciline Jepkosgei, who finished in 2:15:55.
“When I finished the race and found out Sabastian had broken the world record and gone under two hours I was so, so happy for him,” Assefa said.
“To break world records requires a lot of work, and I want to congratulate him on his wonderful achievement.”


Addisu Gobena shatters Sydney Marathon record, Jepchirchir takes women’s title

How a 150kg teacher lost 66kg after being told he might not live to 30

Chinese athlete sets Guinness World Record – runs marathon for 372 days in a row, not done yet

Why ‘extreme fitness FOMO’ can do more harm than good for people 40 and up

Marathons

London Marathon star Sawe says ‘nothing is impossible’ after sub-2-hour record run

Marathon winners Sabastian Sawe (left) and Tigst Assefa with the Chris Brasher Sporting Life Trophy  in London. Photo: AFP

Sebastian Sawe with his Adidas Pro Evo 3s. Photo: Xinhua

Sabastian Sawe makes history with first sub-two-hour marathon in London

Sabastian Sawe crosses the finishing line following his record-breaking London Marathon run. Photo: Reuters

Tigst Assefa smashed her own women’s-only world record. Photo: AP

More than 59,000 people were expected to complete the London Marathon. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong bridge half-marathon gets platinum status, now city’s top-ranked race

Runners set off at the start of the 2025 Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Half Marathon. Photo: Eugene Lee

Ethiopia’s Milkesa Mengesha takes a knee after winning last year’s race. Photo: Eugene Lee

Sport

Outdoor

City’s race chief believes Sabastian Sawe achievement could be ‘greatest sporting moment’ of the 21st century


City’s race chief believes Sabastian Sawe achievement could be ‘greatest sporting moment’ of the 21st century.


Eliud Kipchoge

Adidas

London Marathon star Sawe says ‘nothing is impossible’ after sub-2-hour record run

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}City’s race chief believes Sabastian Sawe achievement could be ‘greatest sporting moment’ of the 21st century

City’s race chief believes Sabastian Sawe achievement could be ‘greatest sporting moment’ of the 21st century