History was made on the streets of London this week! 🏃♂️💨 Kenyan marathon superstar Sabastian Sawe has officially shattered one of athletics' most legendary barriers by running the first-ever sub-two-hour marathon in an official race.
Sawe blazed across the finish line at the London Marathon on Sunday with a mind-blowing time of 1:59:30, smashing the previous world record by over a minute. This is the marathon equivalent of breaking the sound barrier—a feat many thought was humanly impossible.
The 31-year-old athlete returned home to Kenya to a hero's welcome. On Thursday, President William Ruto hosted Sawe at State House, awarding him 8 million Kenyan shillings (about $62,000) and some epic praise.
"You have not only broken a record. You have expanded the horizon of human potential," President Ruto declared. "You have done what many believed could not be done… you have inspired a nation and the world."
The celebration started even before the presidential honor. When Sawe landed in Nairobi on Wednesday night, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport was packed with fans, family, and friends cheering for their new national icon. 🎉
This historic run cements Kenya's dominance in long-distance running and opens up a thrilling new chapter in sports science and human endurance. For young athletes and dreamers everywhere, Sawe's story is a powerful reminder: sometimes, the only limit is the one we set for ourselves.
Reference(s):
Kenya's Sawe honored by president after historic sub-two hour marathon
cgtn.com
