Kenya's Sebastian Sawe won the London Marathon in 1:59:30, becoming the first man in the world to run under two hours. Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa defended her women's title on Sunday and improved her own world record.
However, Sawe stole the spotlight by breaking the two-hour barrier in a historic moment for the sport. He beat the world record of his late compatriot Kelvin Kiptum (2:00:35), set at the Chicago Marathon in October 2023. The 31-year-old has never lost a marathon and improved the world record by 65 seconds.
Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha followed Sawe for most of the 42.195 km distance but faded at the end, finishing second in his marathon debut with a time of 1:59:41. Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo took bronze in 2:02:28. All three ran faster than Kiptum's previous record.
"We started the race well, and at the end I felt strong," Sawe said. "When I saw the finish line, I noticed the time and was very happy to have set a world record. I prepared very well because coming to London for the second time was very important to me." Kiptum died in a road accident in Kenya in 2024 at the age of 24.
In the women's race, Assefa retained her victory. Olympic champion and world silver medalist Hellen Obiri of Kenya and Joyciline Jepkosgei were in a three-way battle, but Assefa pulled ahead in the final stretch and finished in 2:15:41. That time was nine seconds better than her best on the same course last year. Obiri finished second in 2:15:53.
The world record in the mixed race, where women are assisted by male pacemakers, belongs to Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich (Chicago Marathon, October 2024, 2:09:56). Chepngetich received a three-year doping ban last October, but her achievements and records prior to a test in March 2025 remain valid. Switzerland's Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner won the men's and women's wheelchair races.
