Kenya’s Sebastian Sawi speaks during an interview with The Associated Press after winning the London Marathon in London, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Sebastien Saoi made history Sunday morning at the London Marathon, becoming the first man to complete a marathon in under two hours under official race conditions as he defends his title for the second year in a row. The 31-year-old Kenyan, known in his training camp as the “Silent Killer,” completed the 26.2-mile (42.2 km) course in a time of 1:59:30, breaking a long-standing barrier that had eluded competitive racing and setting a new world record in the process. Finally, he held up his Adidas shoes, with the time written on them in pen, to mark this moment. This was only Sawe’s fifth marathon, but he dominated the race and clearly crossed the finish line in what was described as a scandalous performance.
Ethiopian Yomif Kegelcha also dropped under two hours to take second place with a time of 1:59:41 on the mall, while Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo took third place with a time of 2:00:28.
Sebastian Sawi of Kenya celebrates winning the men’s race at the London Marathon in London, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Sawi’s time erased 35 seconds from the previous official world record of 2:00:35 set by the late Kelvin Kiptom at the 2023 Chicago Marathon, placing it just 10 seconds faster than the unofficial mark of 1:59:40 set by Eliud Kipchoge in 2019 under controlled conditions.
Prize money, bonuses and total profits
If you’re wondering how much the Kenyan star will get, Sawe’s earnings from racing come from a combination of base prize money and a range of performance bonuses, creating life-changing rewards that could go a long way towards his plans for his family and future. The base prize for winning the men’s elite race is $55,000 (about £40,000). Furthermore, he qualifies for all available key performance bonuses:
- $150,000 (about £111,000) to finish in under 2:02:00
- $125,000 (about £92,000) for breaking the world record
- $25,000 (about £18,500) for setting a London course record
This brings his confirmed prize pool to $355,000, or approximately £263,000. Additional reporting, including from The Sun, suggests that when sponsorship terms and commercial bonuses are taken into account, Sawe could earn up to $1 million from the feat. An Adidas athlete, he set the record wearing the Adios Pro Evo 3, which retail for around £450.
Sebastian Sawi of Kenya, winner of the men’s race, celebrates on the podium after the London Marathon, Sunday, April 26, 2026.AP/PTI(AP04_27_2026_000113A)
During the event, the prize money drops from $55,000 for the winner to around $30,000 (£24,000) for second place and around $1,000 (£800) for 12th place.
What does he plan to do with the money?
Sawi has already made it clear that his first priority is his family in Kenya. He plans to build a house and buy them a car so they don’t have to walk anymore, as well as fund the completion of a local church and support relatives’ travel abroad. His father, Simon, told the BBC through a translator: “The truth is that he promised us that he would build us a house. He said that he would buy a car. So we will not walk anymore. “He also promised that he would finish building the church here, and that he would help us go abroad.” The family watched the race from rural western Kenya, where his mother Emily said she “jumped around the house” and was “so happy” when he crossed the finish line. They are planning bigger celebrations once he returns home as the world record holder.
Race and his own words
Some 59,000 runners took part in the London Marathon, but the focus quickly narrowed to the front of the men’s race as Sawi built and maintained his lead. He credited the London crowd after the finale, telling Gabby Logan on the BBC: “Firstly, I would like to thank the fans. “They help me a lot. They have helped me a lot. You feel happy, strong and motivated. What comes to me today is not just for me, but for all of us in London.”
Sebastian Sawi of Kenya crosses the finish line to win the men’s race at the London Marathon in London, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Sawi’s preparations for the day were remarkably simple, as he said he ate “two slices of bread with ham and cups of tea” before the race.
The context behind the performance
Sawi previously served as pacemaker at the 2022 Seville Half Marathon before quickly rising through the ranks, and this latest win marks a second consecutive London Marathon title. For many years, the two-hour marathon barrier was seen as out of reach in official competition. Not only did Sawe break the mark, he did so convincingly, as another runner also fell below the mark on the same day. The result is considered one of the most important performances in long-distance racing, both for the time itself and for the transformation it represents in what can be achieved under racing conditions.
