Historic Breakthrough at London Marathon 2026: Two Athletes Go Sub-Two Hours
A Milestone in Marathon History
London [UK], April 27: The London Marathon 2026 marked a groundbreaking moment in marathon history as two runners achieved the remarkable feat of finishing under two hours in an officially sanctioned race.
Kenya's Sabastian Sawe led the way, finishing in an astonishing 1:59:30, thus becoming the first athlete to officially break the two-hour barrier in a marathon. This performance surpassed the previous world record of 2:00:35, held by Kelvin Kiptum, by a significant margin of 1 minute and 5 seconds.
Following closely was Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha, who completed the race in 1:59:41, making history alongside Sawe. Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo also made headlines by finishing third with a time of 2:00:28, as all three runners broke the former world record.
Sawe, who had previously won the London Marathon in 2:02:27, elevated the competition to new heights, transforming the event into a historic occasion for long-distance running.
Two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge praised this achievement as a pivotal moment for the sport. In a social media post, Kipchoge, who himself recorded a time of 1:59:40 during the non-record-eligible INEOS 1:59 Challenge, commended the athletes for fulfilling a long-cherished aspiration.
“Witnessing two athletes break the two-hour barrier at the London Marathon demonstrates that we are merely at the dawn of what can be achieved when talent, innovation, and a steadfast belief in human capability converge. Congratulations to both Sabastian Sawe and Yomif Kejelcha,” Kipchoge expressed on Instagram.
“Achieving a sub-two-hour marathon has been a dream for runners globally, and today you have made that dream a reality. During the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, we proved it was possible, and I have always hoped to see another athlete carry this belief forward and break this extraordinary barrier in a city marathon,” he added.
“May this accomplishment inspire future generations and remind everyone that no human is limited,” he concluded.