Sabastian Sawe is a Kenyan long-distance runner and the men’s marathon world record holder. His rise to the top of distance running has been remarkably rapid, particularly because he did not make his marathon debut until 2024.
On April 26, 2026, Sawe made athletics history at the London Marathon by running 1:59:30. The performance made him the first man to officially complete a marathon in under two hours and lowered the previous world record by 65 seconds.
Who Is Sabastian Sawe?
Sabastian Kimaru Sawe was born on March 16, 1995, in Kenya’s Uasin Gishu County. He grew up in a rural environment and was raised largely by his grandmother after losing his father at a young age.
Running became part of his life during school, but his international breakthrough came much later than that of many elite Kenyan athletes. His development accelerated after he joined the 2Running training group under Italian coach Claudio Berardelli.
Sawe initially competed mainly on the track before moving increasingly toward road racing. His ability over the half marathon eventually provided the foundation for his transition to the marathon.
Sabastian Sawe Age
Sabastian Sawe is 31 years old as of September 2026. He was born on March 16, 1995.
World Athletics lists him as a Kenyan athlete and currently ranks him No. 1 in the men’s marathon. The organisation also records him as a world-record holder, World Road Running champion and two-time major marathon winner.
Education
Sawe attended St Patrick’s High School in Iten, Kenya, a school located in one of the country’s best-known distance-running regions.
His early education was closely connected to his development as an athlete. He began competing in school races and gradually discovered that long-distance running could provide a pathway beyond his rural upbringing.
Unlike some professional athletes, Sawe’s public profile is centred more heavily on his sporting development than on university education. There is no need to attribute a university degree to him without reliable documentation.
Early Running Career
Sawe’s early running career was not immediately focused on the marathon. In 2019, he entered a 5,000-metre race after arriving late for a competition and won in 13:56.
The performance helped reveal his potential over longer distances. He later joined the 2Running group, where Berardelli helped guide his progression.
An injury slowed his development in 2020, but he returned to competition and began establishing himself on the road-running circuit.
Half Marathon Success
Sawe announced himself as a major road-racing talent at the 2022 Seville Half Marathon.
He entered the race as a pacemaker but continued after dropping the assigned pace and eventually won in 59:02, setting a course record.
That victory opened the door to further international success. He subsequently won the Rome-Ostia Half Marathon and the Bahrain Royal Night Half Marathon in 2022.
In September 2024, he won the Copenhagen Half Marathon in 58:05, which remains one of the fastest half-marathon performances of his career. World Athletics lists 58:05 as his legal personal best for the distance.
Marathon Career
Sawe made his marathon debut at the 2024 Valencia Marathon. Rather than taking time to adapt to the longer distance, he won the race in 2:02:05.
The result immediately established him as one of the world’s leading marathon runners. It was also one of the fastest marathon debuts ever recorded.
His next major marathon came at the 2025 London Marathon, where he improved to 2:02:27 and successfully won the race.
Later that year, he won the Berlin Marathon in 2:02:16. That victory made him the defending champion heading into the 2026 season.
2026 London Marathon World Record
The defining achievement of Sawe’s career came at the 2026 London Marathon.
He entered the race as the defending champion and was part of a leading group that maintained an exceptionally fast pace. After halfway, Sawe continued to increase the speed and eventually pulled clear.
He crossed the finish line in 1:59:30, becoming the first man to officially run a marathon under two hours.
His performance broke the previous official world record of 2:00:35, set by Kelvin Kiptum at the 2023 Chicago Marathon. Sawe also became the first athlete to achieve an official sub-two-hour marathon in a record-eligible competitive race.
The performance gave him the fastest official marathon time in history. World Athletics lists 1:59:30 as his marathon personal best and world record.
2026 Berlin Marathon Withdrawal
Sawe was initially scheduled to defend his Berlin Marathon title on September 27, 2026.
However, he withdrew from the race in August because of an injury. He therefore did not compete in the 2026 edition, which was won by Ethiopia’s Guye Adola in 2:02:50.
His withdrawal means that his 1:59:30 London performance remains his latest completed marathon as of September 2026.
Sabastian Sawe Achievements
Some of Sawe’s major achievements include:
- Marathon world record of 1:59:30
- First official sub-two-hour marathon runner
- 2026 London Marathon winner
- 2025 Berlin Marathon winner
- 2025 London Marathon winner
- 2024 Valencia Marathon winner
- 2024 Copenhagen Half Marathon winner
- 2022 Seville Half Marathon winner
- World Road Running champion
- World Athletics No. 1 men’s marathon ranking in 2026
His marathon record is particularly notable because he won each of his first four completed elite marathons, culminating in the world-record performance in London. World Athletics records those four victories as Valencia 2024, London 2025, Berlin 2025 and London 2026.
Family and Personal Life
Sawe grew up in a rural Kenyan household and was largely raised by his grandmother. His early life was shaped by a modest environment, including a home without electricity.
He has kept much of his private life away from the international spotlight, while his public identity remains closely associated with athletics and his training career.
His story has also become an example of how Kenya’s strong distance-running culture can provide opportunities for athletes from rural communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Sabastian Sawe?
Sabastian Sawe is 31 years old as of September 2026. He was born on March 16, 1995.
Where is Sabastian Sawe from?
He is from Kenya’s Uasin Gishu County in the Rift Valley region.
Where did Sabastian Sawe go to school?
He attended St Patrick’s High School in Iten, Kenya.
When did Sabastian Sawe make his marathon debut?
Sawe made his marathon debut at the 2024 Valencia Marathon and won the race in 2:02:05.
What is Sabastian Sawe’s marathon world record?
His marathon world record is 1:59:30, set when he won the 2026 London Marathon.
Is Sabastian Sawe the first man to run a marathon under two hours?
Yes. Sawe became the first man to officially run a marathon under two hours in a record-eligible competitive race when he ran 1:59:30 in London in April 2026.
Did Sabastian Sawe compete in the 2026 Berlin Marathon?
No. He withdrew from the 2026 Berlin Marathon because of an injury.
Conclusion
Sabastian Sawe’s rise has been one of the most remarkable recent stories in marathon running. He moved from successful half-marathon racing to a winning marathon debut in 2024 and quickly established himself among the world’s leading distance runners.
His 1:59:30 performance at the 2026 London Marathon changed the history of the event by making him the first man to officially break the two-hour barrier. At 31, Sawe’s world-record career has already produced major victories in Valencia, London and Berlin, giving his biography a distinctive place in modern African athletics.