London [UK], April 27 : A historic chapter in marathon running was written at the London Marathon 2026 on Sunday as the men's race shattered long-standing limits, with two athletes breaking the elusive two-hour barrier under official conditions for the first time.
Kenya's Sabastian Sawe led the charge, storming to victory in 1:59:30 to become the first man to clock a sub-two-hour marathon in a record-eligible race. His run eclipsed the previous world record of 2:00:35, set by Kelvin Kiptum, by 1 minute and 5 seconds.
Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha followed just 11 seconds later in 1:59:41, joining Sawe in the history books, while Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo finished third in 2:00:28 as all three athletes went under the previous world record.
Sawe, who won last year's London Marathon in 2:02:27, raised the bar to unprecedented levels, turning a highly anticipated race into a landmark moment in distance running.
Two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge hailed the achievement as a defining moment for the sport. Taking to social media, Kipchoge, who himself ran 1:59:40 during the non-record-eligible INEOS 1:59 Challenge, praised the athletes for realising a long-held dream.
"Seeing two athletes break the magical two-hour barrier at the London Marathon is proof that we are just at the beginning of what is possible when talent, progress, and an unwavering belief in human potential come together. My deepest congratulations to both Sabastian Sawe and Yomif Kejelcha," Kipchoge wrote on Instagram.
"Breaking the sub-two-hour barrier in the marathon has long been a dream for runners everywhere, and today you've made that dream come true. During the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, we showed the world that it was possible, and it has always been my hope to see another athlete continue with this belief and break this magical barrier in a city marathon," he added.
"Let this achievement inspire the next generation and remind everyone in the world that no human is limited," he concluded.
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