Kenyan long-distance runner Sabastian Sawe has made history by becoming the first athlete to officially complete a marathon in under two hours, clocking 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds at the London Marathon on Sunday. The time betters the previous men's world record by 65 seconds and marks a milestone widely regarded as one of athletics' most symbolic barriers. On his return to Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Wednesday, Sawe told reporters he was proud to have "made a great achievement in life" and was already planning to "try and lower the record further."

The welcome home was befitting a national hero. Sawe's aircraft received a water cannon salute on landing, and traditional dancers greeted him at the airport as Sports Minister Salim Mvurya called the achievement "a win for Kenya." Sawe was adorned with a traditional victory wreath made from twigs before departing in a government vehicle. The following day, President William Ruto hosted a formal ceremony at State House in Nairobi, where he described the run as "a defining moment in the history of human endurance" and praised Sawe for "expanding the horizon of human potential." The president awarded Sawe $61,000 and a car. In return, Sawe presented Ruto with an autographed Adidas Adizero shoe worn during the record-breaking race, along with a signed photograph of the finish.

Sawe, who hails from Nandi County in western Kenya, a region long celebrated for producing elite distance runners, comes from a family steeped in athletics. He was introduced to professional running by his uncle, Abraham Chepkirwok, a silver medallist at the 2008 World Championships in Berlin. His mother, Emily, recounts spotting his talent when he was just four years old — he would outrun her at bath time, even though she herself had been an athlete. His father, Simon, who admitted he was too nervous to watch the race live and only saw it on replay, described his son as "very disciplined" and hardworking, adding: "I have nothing to teach him anymore." Sawe debuted on the international stage with a win at the 2024 Valencia Marathon.

The achievement carries weight beyond sport. An official sub-two-hour marathon had long been considered the athletics equivalent of the four-minute mile — a barrier as much psychological as physical. Sawe dedicated the record to Kenya, a country that has dominated long-distance running for decades. His family says the ambition does not stop here: even in the flush of victory, his father reports, Sawe insists the record "was not enough" and is already focused on going faster.