Sabastian Sawe received a rapturous welcome in Kenya after making history by becoming the first athlete to complete a marathon in under two hours during an official race. His groundbreaking performance at the London Marathon has been hailed as a landmark moment in athletics.
Upon his return to Nairobi, Sawe was honoured at State House by William Ruto, who described the achievement as a defining milestone in human endurance. Ruto compared the feat to iconic moments such as Roger Bannister’s first sub-four-minute mile and even the historic Apollo 11 Moon Landing.
Sawe clocked an extraordinary time of 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds in London, narrowly edging Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who also finished under the two-hour mark. The achievement sparked nationwide celebrations, with crowds gathering at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to welcome him home.
Speaking to supporters, Sawe expressed gratitude for the overwhelming reception, emphasizing that the record was a shared achievement for the country. He said he hoped the milestone would inspire pride and unity across Kenya.
Despite the celebrations, Sawe’s accomplishment comes against a backdrop of ongoing concerns about doping in Kenyan athletics. In an effort to ensure transparency, he has voluntarily undergone extensive additional testing, including funding multiple checks through the Athletics Integrity Unit ahead of major races.
His achievement not only cements his place in sporting history but also reinforces Kenya’s dominance in long-distance running on the global stage.
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