‘I did not expect it’: Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe welcomed home with jubilant celebrations1 hour agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on Google
Barbara Plett Usher,Africa correspondentand
Toby Mann
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‘I did not expect it’: Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe welcomed home with jubilant celebrations1 hour agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on Google
Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe has returned home to joyous scenes after becoming the first man to run a marathon in under two hours in competitive race conditions.
His incredible achievement at Sunday’s London Marathon is being celebrated in Kenya, where officials welcomed him home amid a crush of cameras at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the capital, Nairobi.
His parents were also present to greet him, days after the 31-year-old achieved the holy grail of marathon running by smashing the two-hour barrier in a race with an official time of one hour 59 minutes and 30 seconds.
“I am happy about this good day, that you came to celebrate with me, I did not expect it,” Sawe told the crowd.
EPASawe’s parents drove six hours from their home to be there with his supporters when he landed.
His Kenyan Airways plane was given a water cannon salute when it landed, as dancers and musicians performed.
The homecoming was a huge moment for Sawe and his family, and also for the country.
Speaking from the family home before going to the airport, Sawe’s father Simeon Sawe reported: “He used to tell me that one day, he was going to break the record. He was so determined and hopeful that he would.
“I am happy for him and all of us here. We celebrated so much, my throat still hurts from all the cheering,” he added.
Sawe met Kenya’s President William Ruto on Thursday morning and was awarded two cheques worth 8m Kenya shillings ($62,000; £46,000) for breaking the marathon record and getting a gold medal. He also received a vehicle number plate 01:59:30 – his official record time.
Ruto described Sawe’s win as a “moment that is exceedingly rare” and not just a sporting triumph but “a defining moment in the history of human endurance”.
“Sabastian, you have not only broken a record, you have expanded the horizon of human potential,” the president reported.
Getty ImagesSawe presented Ruto with the shoes he wore as he covered the 26.2 miles (42.2km) on Sunday.
He reported his achievement in London was “on behalf of everyone and for the nation”.
“We will continue to put more effort in our talent to keep the nation flying high. Thank you for all the support… we will not let you down,” he reported.
Sawe’s run was more than one minute faster than the late Kelvin Kiptum’s previous record of 2:00:35, which was set in 2023.
He was on already on pace to beat that record as he crossed the halfway mark in 1:00:29, and managed to run the second half of the race even faster in just 59:01.
“I am feeling good. I am so happy. It is a day to remember for me,” he told the BBC after the race.
Sawe, who has won all four marathons he has entered, is already talking about his next competition in the autumn, saying he believes he can run an even faster time.
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