Kenyan long-distance runner Sabastian Sawe became the first person to run a marathon in under two hours on Sunday, April 26, 2026 [1, 5].

The achievement marks a historic milestone in athletics, shattering a long-standing psychological and physical barrier for distance runners worldwide.

Competing at the London Marathon in the United Kingdom, Sawe recorded a finishing time of one hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds [2, 5]. This performance established a new world record, finishing 65 seconds faster than the previous mark [4].

Sawe, whose age is reported as either 30 [5] or 31 [2], said the result was due to a combination of rigorous training and sports science. The runner utilized a new "supershoe" developed by Adidas to assist in maintaining the record-breaking pace [6].

The race took place across the streets of London, where Sawe maintained the necessary speed to dip under the two-hour mark for the first time in official competition [2, 5].

While previous attempts to break the barrier occurred in controlled environments, this result occurred during a major city marathon. The integration of advanced footwear technology and optimized physiological training played a critical role in the outcome [6].

“Sabastian Sawe became the first person to run a marathon in under two hours”

Sawe's sub-two-hour marathon represents a convergence of human endurance and technological intervention. The use of carbon-plated 'supershoes' has sparked ongoing debate in the sporting community regarding the line between athletic achievement and mechanical advantage, potentially shifting how world records are categorized in the future.