By Joshua Otieno | April 30, 2026
NAIROBI, KENYA — Kenyan marathon star Sebastian Sawe received a hero’s welcome at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on April 29 following his historic world record performance at the London Marathon.
Sawe stunned the athletics world on April 26 by becoming the first athlete to run a sub-two-hour marathon in an official, record-eligible race, clocking an extraordinary 1:59:30. The feat shaved more than a minute off the previous world record of 2:00:35 set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023.
Unlike Eliud Kipchoge’s 2019 INEOS 1:59 exhibition, Sawe’s performance was achieved under standard competitive conditions and is now pending ratification by World Athletics.
The 30-year-old athlete arrived in Nairobi at approximately 8:35 PM aboard a Kenya Airways flight from Paris, where he was greeted with a ceremonial water cannon salute. He was received on arrival by his parents and Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, alongside jubilant fans and traditional dancers.
During the reception at Terminal 1A, Sawe was adorned with a traditional wreath as celebrations erupted to honor his groundbreaking achievement.
Speaking shortly after landing, the marathoner expressed pride in his accomplishment, describing it as a “great achievement in life,” while signaling his ambition to push the record even lower in future races.
The landmark performance further cements Kenya’s dominance in long-distance running and marks a defining moment in the history of marathon racing.
