Marathon record-breaker Sabastian Sawe returned to a hero's welcome in Kenya after posting a sub-two-hour marathon time of 1:59:30 at the London Marathon. He received cash and a car from President William Ruto during the celebration.
Key points
Sabastian Sawe posted a sub-two-hour marathon time of 1:59:30
He won the London Marathon, breaking a significant record
Sawe received a hero's welcome at Nairobi airport
President William Ruto awarded him eight million Kenyan shillings
Sawe was also gifted a car during the celebration
Mentioned in this story
Sabastian SaweWilliam RutoKenya
London Marathon
Marathon record-breaker Sabastian Sawe has received a hero’s welcome home in Kenya, with fans thronging the airport in Nairobi and the country’s president giving him cash and a car.
Sawe posted the first-ever sub-two-hour marathon time of 1:59:30 when he won the London Marathon on Sunday, shattering one of athletics’ most elusive barriers and improving on the previous world record by more than one minute.
The 31-year-old was the toast of the nation when he arrived home late on Wednesday and was greeted by jubilant fans and family members.
The aircraft carrying Sawe was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute when it landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Kenya’s President William Ruto welcomed Sawe at State House and awarded him eight million Kenyan shillings ($62,064) as well as a car.
Chaotic and celebratory scenes awaited Sawe as he gave a short media conference at the airport, according to Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi.
“People have come to celebrate him, they say that he’s a hero,” Soi reported from the airport, where Sawe’s supporters told Al Jazeera the distance runner had made them proud.
A Kenya Airways plane receives a water cannon salute as it arrives with Kenyan runner Sebastian Sawe at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after breaking the men's marathon world record at the 2026 London Marathon to become the first person to run a marathon in under two hours in an official race, setting a new world record with a time of 1:59:30, in Nairobi, Kenya, April 29, 2026. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya
A water cannon salute for Sebastian Sawe as he lands in Nairobi [Thomas Mukoya/Reuters)
Ordinary person, extraordinary feat
Many fans admitted that they were unaware of Sawe until his feat made the news, and they watched snippets of his race.
“Seeing him in real life was very special, and it was also inspiring for me to know that he’s just an ordinary person like me,” Sawe fan David Gitonga told Al Jazeera.
“If he can achieve such great things, then it means that I also have the potential to do it.”
Q&A
What record did Sabastian Sawe break at the London Marathon?
Sabastian Sawe broke the marathon record by posting a time of 1:59:30, the first-ever sub-two-hour marathon.
How much money did President William Ruto award Sabastian Sawe?
President William Ruto awarded Sabastian Sawe eight million Kenyan shillings, equivalent to $62,064.
What kind of welcome did Sabastian Sawe receive upon returning to Kenya?
Sabastian Sawe received a hero's welcome with fans thronging the airport and a traditional water cannon salute at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
When did Sabastian Sawe win the London Marathon?
Sabastian Sawe won the London Marathon on Sunday, prior to his arrival in Kenya on Wednesday.
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Others said they were encouraged to push their own limits and “maybe do better” than what Sawe had achieved.
He was welcomed at the airport by his parents and Sports Minister, Salim Mvurya, who hailed the runner’s accomplishment as “a win for Kenya.”
He was adorned with a traditional wreath made from twigs to symbolise victory.
Traditional dancers sang his praises as he then climbed into a luxury government vehicle as part of the “heroic welcome” hailed by the sports minister.
Sawe’s parents said that they knew he was destined for greatness even as a child. His mother recounted how he sprinted during bath time.
“He would run too fast. So, I would say to myself, this boy will shine for me one day,” Emily Sawe told the Associated Press news agency.
His father recounted some tension watching Sunday’s marathon because the television lacked a clear signal.
“The moment my son pulled in front, I walked out and didn’t see him finish the race. I watched the replay afterwards. I was so happy, extremely happy. We screamed so much that now it is hard to swallow anything,” Simion Kiplagat Sawe said.
Sawe said he was proud to have “made a great achievement in life” and was planning to “try and lower the record further.”
Traditional entertainers perform to welcome Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe (not pictured) as he arrives at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after breaking the men's marathon world record at the 2026 London Marathon to become the first person to run a marathon in under two hours in an official race, setting a new world record with a time of 1:59:30, in Nairobi, Kenya, April 29, 2026. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi
Traditional entertainers welcome Sawe [Monicah Mwangi/Reuters]
‘Made the impossible possible’
Analysing the race, his coach Claudio Bertelli – whom Sawe joined in 2020 – said the runner was leading throughout.
“He followed the pacemakers for 27 kilometres (16.7 miles), and then from there he took control of the race, pushing the pace with a lot of courage, a lot of determination,” the veteran Italian coach said.
“A lot of people have come here, they want to see him and celebrate him,” Soi said from amongst a crowd of supporters at the airport.
“They say this has made a huge impact, especially when it comes to young athletes, young runners who just want to be like him.”
President Ruto lauded Sawe at a ceremony marking his extraordinary achievement.
“You have not only broken a record, you have expanded the horizon of human potential,” he said at the ceremony attended by government and sports officials.
“You have done what many believed could not be done,” the president told Sawe.
“You have made the impossible possible, and in so doing, you have inspired a nation and the world.”
Sawe gave President Ruto an autographed Adidas Adizero shoe worn during Sunday’s marathon. He also autographed a photo of the moment he broke the world record.
The previous world record of 2:00:35 was set by fellow Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in October 2023. Kiptum died in a car crash in 2024.
Another Kenyan, Eliud Kipchoge, broke the two-hour barrier in a specially staged event in 2019, but that did not count as an official record.
Sawe made his marathon debut with victory in Valencia in December 2024 and has won every one of his races over the distance since.
Kenya's President William Ruto (R) gifts a plaque reading Kenyan marathon runner Sabastian Sawe (L) record time after winning the London Marathon as he congratulates the athlete on on stage, during a ceremony at State House in Nairobi, on April 30, 2026. Sabastian Sawe became the first man to run under two hours for a marathon in race conditions thanks to extraordinary talent, a punishing training regime, and the lightest shoes in history. In London on April 26, 2026, the 31-year-old Kenyan achieved one of sport's milestones, ranking alongside Roger Bannister's first sub-four minute mile in 1954. (Photo by Luis TATO / AFP)
Kenya’s President William Ruto gifts a custom car number plate reading Sawe’s record time [Luis Tato/AFP]
