New record at the run in London
Marathon world record: Sawe secures huge sum
April 26, 2026 – 7:10 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Sabastian Sawe sets a new marathon world record in London. This not only brings him fame and honor, but also fills his wallet.
The two-hour mark was considered unattainable in marathons for decades. On Sunday it was the first time that it was undercut in an official competition. Sabastian Sawe finished the run in London in 1:59.30 hours and made the seemingly impossible possible.
In the best conditions, he beat Kelvin Kiptum’s previous world record by 65 seconds. “I’m so happy. This is an unforgettable day for me,” the athlete told the BBC after his run. After all, he made sports history with his world record run. The triumph also brings the Kenyan strong income.
There is a multi-tiered bonus model for the marathon in England’s capital, where he secured triple bonuses. First place earned him almost 47,000 euros (55,000 US dollars), falling below the time mark of 2:02.00 hours earned him almost 128,000 euros (150,000 US dollars) and the world record earned him a further 107,000 euros (125,000 US dollars). In total, Sawe collected almost 282,000 euros (333,000 US dollars) in official bonuses alone.
It can also be assumed that the Kenyan will also receive bonus payments from his sponsors. After crossing the finish line, he proudly held up his outfitter’s shoe to the cameras. The English “Sun” mentioned a remarkable fact in this regard: at 96 grams, the shoe is “lighter than a baby kitten”.
Meanwhile, it wasn’t just Sawe’s performance that stood out at the marathon in London. Second-placed Yomif Kejelcha also undercut the two-hour mark and crossed the finish line eleven seconds after the winner. Jacob Kiplimo, as the third-best runner, also beat the previous world record time on Sunday afternoon.
