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LONDON — The world of athletics will never be the same. On a crisp Sunday morning that saw the very limits of human endurance redefined, Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe did what was once thought impossible: he became the first man to run an official marathon in under two hours.
Crossing the finish line on The Mall against the iconic backdrop of Buckingham Palace, Sawe clocked a mind-boggling 1:59:30, obliterating the late Kelvin Kiptum’s world record of 2:00:35. But he wasn’t alone in his brilliance. In a race of unprecedented depth, the top three finishers all ran faster than the previous world record, including Uganda’s own Jacob Kiplimo, who secured a historic bronze.
Who won the London Marathon 2026?
The 2026 London Marathon was won by Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe, who finished in 1:59:30. He was followed closely by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who made a stunning marathon debut to take second place in 1:59:41. Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo completed the podium in 2:00:28, marking the first time in history that three men have finished a sanctioned marathon in under 2 hours and 1 minute.
In the women’s elite race, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa successfully defended her title, crossing the line in 2:15:41 to break her own women-only world record.
Is Sabastian Sawe the first person to run a marathon under 2 hours?
Yes, in the context of an official, open competition. While the legendary Eliud Kipchoge ran 1:59:40 in Vienna in 2019, that feat was achieved in a controlled environment with rotating pacers and was not recognized by World Athletics as an official record.
Sawe’s performance on Sunday is a landmark moment because it was achieved in a mass-participation race on the streets of London. Sawe, 31, managed this feat despite an injury-plagued autumn that saw him return to full training only in January. His average speed was a staggering 13.16 mph, maintaining a pace of roughly 4:33 per mile. Remarkably, his second half-marathon split was 59:01—faster than the current American half-marathon record.
How did Jacob Kiplimo perform in the London Marathon 2026?
Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo delivered a performance for the ages, finishing third in 2:00:28. While he took the bronze, his time was seven seconds faster than the previous world record set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023. Kiplimo’s result cements his status as one of the greatest long-distance runners in the world, proving that Uganda remains a powerhouse on the global stage.
Further down the field, fellow Ugandan star Joshua Cheptegei also competed, finishing 12th with a time of 2:06:39, adding to a strong day for the Ugandan contingent in London.
What was the previous marathon world record?
Before Sawe’s historic run, the world record was 2:00:35, set by the late Kelvin Kiptum at the 2023 Chicago Marathon. Kiptum, who tragically died in a car crash in 2024 at the age of 24, remains a massive inspiration to the current generation of runners. Sawe paid tribute to Kiptum’s legacy during the race, wearing the same cutting-edge Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 (and the updated Pro Evo 3) technology that has helped push the sport into a new era.
Technical Breakdown: The Secrets to the Sub-2 Hour Run
Several factors converged to allow for these “impossible” times:
- The Weather: Conditions were described as “perfect” for elite running, with temperatures in the mid-teens, light winds, and a cool, misty start that gave way to bright sunshine.
- The Crowd: An estimated one million supporters lined the route along the River Thames, providing what Sawe described as “the love and push” needed to maintain record pace.
- The Motivation: Sawe, who trains at high altitude in western Kenya, noted that he was inspired by his uncle, former Ugandan 800m Olympian Abraham Chepkirwod. He also carried the words of a former teacher: “Running is not just talent, it is your fortune and your future.”
- Clean Sport Advocacy: Sawe has been a vocal proponent of clean athletics. In the lead-up to his previous major runs, he invited the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) to test him 25 times to prove his achievements are the result of hard work and “the right way.”
Women’s and Wheelchair Results
The day was equally historic for the women. Tigst Assefa pulled away from Kenyan rivals Hellen Obiri (2:15:53) and Joyciline Jepkosgei (2:15:55) in the final stretch to lower the women-only world record to 2:15:41.
In the wheelchair events, Switzerland dominated. Marcel Hug secured his eighth overall London title and sixth in a row, while Catherine Debrunner won her third consecutive women’s wheelchair race, narrowly beating American Tatyana McFadden in a sprint finish.
This 2026 edition of the London Marathon will be remembered not just for the records broken, but for the day the “sub-two” moved from a laboratory dream to a reality on the streets of the world.
