Indian badminton star PV Sindhu was left in awe after Kenyan Sebastian Sawe rewrote distance running history at the 2026 London Marathon, becoming the first athlete to break the two-hour mark in official race conditions. Sawe achieved an amazing 1:59:30, breaking the previous world record and redefining what was once thought impossible.
Reacting to the X moment, Sindhu called the feat “mind blowing” and reflected on how long the sub-two-hour barrier had stood as an almost impossible goal.
“For decades, a sub-2 hour marathon was nearly impossible. Today, Sebastian Sawe ran 1:59:30. The ceiling of human endurance just moved… Totally stunned. And somehow it’s even crazier. Yomif Kejelcha ran 1:59:41 in his debut… Two sub-two human beings in one race.”
Sindhu also paid an emotional tribute to the late Kenyan runner Kelvin Kiptum, whose 2023 mark of 2:00:35 was the benchmark until now.
“And I can’t help but think of Kelvin Kiptum, my dear friend. I hope he’s up there smiling and dancing tonight… He should have been chasing this moment. Today, Sebastian Sawe completed a dream.”
Kiptum had set the previous record at the 2023 Chicago Marathon before his tragic death in a car crash shortly after his achievement was officially ratified.
WHO IS SEBASTIAN SAWE?
Sebastian Sawe, a 30-year-old Kenyan long-distance runner, now has he performed one of the greatest performances in the history of the marathon. His 1:59:30 in London not only beat the previous world record of 2:00:35 by 65 seconds, he became the first athlete to officially run a sub-two-hour marathon under race conditions.
The extent of the performance becomes clearer with context. Sawe averaged roughly 2 minutes and 50 seconds per kilometer over 42.195 km and maintained an elite pace without dropping throughout the race. His split consistency and finishing kick set him apart in a field that was historic in its own right.
It was also one of the few races where multiple records were broken together. Yomif Kejelcha clocked 1:59:41 on his marathon debut to become the second fastest man ever, while Jacob Kiplimo’s 2:00:28 made him the third fastest ever. All three runners broke the previous world record, underscoring the greatness of Sawe’s run.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
27 Apr 2026 14:02 IST
