Kenya's Sebastian Sawe Celebrates Historic Two-Hour Marathon Record Kenya's Sebastian Sawe returned to his homeland to a scene of overwhelming celebration after becoming the first man to complete a marathon in under two hours in competitive conditions. The achievement, achieved at the London Marathon on April 29, 2026, was met with jubilant welcomes at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, where officials, fans, and his family gathered to honor his historic feat. Sawe’s official time of 01:59:30 shattered the previous record held by Kelvin Kiptum, who set the mark in 2023 at 2:00:35. The airport welcomed Sawe with a dramatic display, including a water cannon salute for his Kenyan Airways flight and performances by dancers and musicians. His parents, who traveled six hours from their home to be present, joined supporters in cheering as he landed. Sawe expressed surprise at the scale of the celebration, stating, “I am happy about this good day, that you came to celebrate with me, I did not expect it.” His father, Simeon Sawe, shared his pride, recalling how his son had long dreamed of breaking the record. “He used to tell me that one day, he was going to break the record. He was so determined and hopeful that he would,” Simeon said. Sawe’s performance at the London Marathon was marked by a remarkable pace. He crossed the halfway point in 1:00:29, then completed the second half in 59:01, demonstrating exceptional endurance. After the race, he told the BBC, “I am feeling good. I am so happy. It is a day to remember for me.” The victory solidified his status as one of Kenya’s most accomplished athletes, as he has already won all four marathons he has entered. The homecoming was a moment of national pride, with Sawe set to meet President William Ruto.#kenya #sebastian_sawe #jomo_kenyatta_international_airport #kenya_airlines #president_william_ruto
