Sabastian Sawe, the first human to ever run a marathon in under two hours, is convinced faster times are still on the horizon, not just for him but for the entire sport. This dude, a 31-year-old Kenyan, blew everyone’s minds back in April when he hit an unbelievable 1:59:30 in London, absolutely smashing the two-hour barrier that so many thought was literally untouchable. Seriously, it was wild.
Breaking Barriers and Facing Setbacks
You read that right: 1:59:30. And Sawe isn’t done. He’s out here telling AFP that running under 1:59 is possible. “It is hard to predict how fast I will be,” he admitted in Berlin, “but [it’s possible] if we’ve got nice weather, good pacing and I am in good shape.” He thinks more records are gonna fall as running gets more popular and technology keeps getting better. The man even said, “We don’t know about the years in front of us because maybe other people will come along and do something great. There are no limits for now.” Talk about a mindset! What a legend. The craziest part? Even Sawe himself was floored by what he pulled off in London. “I was not expecting to run under two hours,” he said. He was just trying to keep his title. “When I saw [the time] with my eyes as I was almost finishing the race, it was something surprising for me and I was so happy and grateful.” That’s pure, raw emotion right there.
But even a record-breaker like Sawe isn’t immune to the grind. The 2025 Berlin winner was all set to run in the German capital again this past Sunday, but a fractured leg sidelined him. Brutal. “It was hard, but I had to accept it because injuries are part of running,” he said. He’s hoping to be back for London in 2027, but he’s already got his sights locked on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, aiming to do “something special.” He’s learning big time, too: “Now I’m getting to be someone bigger in athletics, I’ve learned a lot and I’ve learned patience is important and recovery is important to make you feel fast and strong.”
The Shadow of Doping and the Fight for Clean Sport
Sawe was speaking in Berlin just a day after another heartbreaker: Tigst Assefa’s shot at the women’s world record absolutely exploded. Assefa, a 29-year-old Ethiopian, was cruising at world record pace until the 35-kilometer mark. Then, out of nowhere, she ruptured her Achilles tendon. Can you even imagine? She literally ran the last two kilometers *without* an Achilles, crossed the finish line first, got the third best women’s mark and a course record, and then collapsed. Insane courage. Sawe was shocked by it. “When I saw what happened I was shocked because she was running a good race this year in Berlin. Everything was perfect for her… She was running to achieve everything she had worked for,” he commented. But he’s got total faith in her. “For sure she will because Tigst is a very strong woman and her mentality is something else. She always has the courage to push her limits. She’s always been a winner.”
It’s a tough world out there, though, and Assefa’s injury wasn’t just about losing her shot at history. It was also a chance to overcome a record that many folks believe is tainted. Assefa’s 2:11:04 was just a little over a minute behind the 2:09:56 set by Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich in 2024. A year later, Chepngetich got hit with a three-year doping suspension, but her record? It still stands. This is where Sawe really steps up. He’s done more than almost anyone to clean up the sport’s image, especially in Kenya, where more than 100 athletes are currently suspended. Sawe has voluntarily gone through extensive additional testing for years, averaging an extra test every three days on top of all the regular requirements. This guy is putting in the work. “Even with what I have achieved, I want to show the world that not all athletes are running dirty… there was a time where there was more doubt than belief,” he said. “It’s a nice routine for athletes to have multiple tests to prove that they are running clean and winning clean. It shows we are pro.”
It’s clear Sabastian Sawe is not just an athlete breaking records, he’s a force for change. With his eyes on London 2027 and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, you know this man is going to keep pushing those limits, both on the track and for the integrity of the sport. We can’t wait to see what he does next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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