He Did the Impossible: Sabastian Sawe Just Ran a Marathon in Under 2 Hours

On 26 April 2026, history was made on the streets of London, and every runner in the world felt it.

Kenyan athlete Sabastian Sawe crossed the finish line at the London Marathon in a jaw-dropping 1:59:30, becoming the first person ever to break the two-hour barrier in a competitive marathon race. Let that sink in. 42.195 kilometres. Under two hours. In a real race, with real competition.

His finish time obliterated the previous world record of 2:00:35, set by the late Kelvin Kiptum at the 2023 Chicago Marathon. CNN

You might remember Eliud Kipchoge, another Kenyan legend,  who ran sub-2 hours back in 2019. But that was a controlled time trial, not an official race. His time didn't count as a record because the conditions weren't standard competition. What Sawe did on Sunday? That counts. That's in the books. Forever. CNN

Chasing Sawe for much of the race was Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha, who faded in the final stretch to finish second, but still crossed in 1:59:41, making it the first time in history two men finished a marathon in under two hours in the same race. CNN

When asked if he'd imagined breaking a world record, Sawe kept it simple: "We start the race well and approaching the end of finishing the race I was feeling strong." No drama. Just a man who trained, trusted the process, and delivered on the biggest stage. CNN

What This Means for Every Runner

We know most of us aren't chasing sub-2 hour marathons. But moments like this matter, because they shift what we believe is possible.

A few years ago, breaking 2 hours felt like a physical impossibility. Scientists debated it. Athletes chased it. And now? Done.

Every PB you've been telling yourself is "too ambitious", think about that.

Running has always been about pushing past what you thought your body could do. Whether you're training for your first 5K, signing up for a fun run, or eyeing your next half marathon, Sawe's run is a reminder that limits exist to be broken.

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Source: CNN Sports, 26 April 2026