Sabastian Sawe returned to a hero’s welcome in Kenya after running a 1:59:30 marathon in London, with fans, officials and President Ruto celebrating the achievement.
Kenya gave marathon runner Sabastian Sawe a hero’s welcome after he returned home from London, where he was reported to have become the first athlete to complete a marathon in under two hours in an official race.
Sawe arrived late Wednesday at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, where his aircraft received a water cannon salute and crowds gathered to celebrate him. President William Ruto later received him at State House and awarded him 8 million Kenyan shillings, about $62,064, as well as a car.
The reception turned Sawe’s 1:59:30 victory at Sunday’s London Marathon into a national celebration in one of distance running’s most successful countries. The time improved by more than a minute on the previous listed world record of 2:00:35, set by fellow Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in 2023.
Sports Minister Salim Mvurya, who was among those greeting Sawe at the airport, described the result as “a win for Kenya.” Sawe was also met by his parents, supporters and traditional dancers, and was adorned with a wreath made from twigs to symbolize victory.
Ruto praised the runner at a ceremony attended by government and sports officials, saying Sawe had “expanded the horizon of human potential.” The president added: “You have done what many believed could not be done.”
Sawe, 31, said he was proud to have made a major achievement and was already looking ahead. He said he planned to “try and lower the record further.”
His coach, Claudio Bertelli, said Sawe followed the pacemakers for 27 kilometers before taking control of the race with courage and determination. Al Jazeera reported that jubilant scenes at the airport reflected the pride many Kenyans felt in seeing another runner from the country push the boundaries of the sport.
The achievement also carries a wider track-and-field significance because the two-hour marathon barrier has long stood as one of distance running’s defining limits. Eliud Kipchoge, also of Kenya, ran under two hours in a specially staged 2019 event, but that performance did not count as an official record.
Sawe’s latest victory adds to a rapid marathon rise. He won on his debut over the distance in Valencia in December 2024 and has won every marathon he has entered since, according to the captured report.
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