Sawe's historic run sparks village celebrations and global praise

Joy and pride rippled across Kenya and beyond as Kenyan long-distance runner Sabastian Sawe made history in London on Sunday, becoming the first athlete to break the two-hour barrier with a time of 1:59:30 at the London Marathon.

In a telephone interview with China Daily, Simon Sawe, the athlete's father, described the family's pride and anticipation as they await his return home.

"We are very happy as a family. We thank God for what Sebastian has achieved," he said from Ndonyangaria village in Kenya's Nandi County on Monday. "We are still waiting to know when he will come back home (from London), but when he does, we will celebrate him together with the whole community."

According to reports by local media NTV, relatives, friends, and neighbours gathered at Sawe's home, with songs of jubilation filling the air as residents lifted his portrait bearing inscriptions of the new record.

Family members said that Sawe had hinted he could break the world record — an ambition that has now been realized. His father, while expressing with overwhelming joy said, "We are so happy we even lack words to say. I don't know whether to wait for him to come or even go and pick him there."

His mother also described the emotional moment as they followed the race live. "We were jumping in celebration even before he finished the race," she said. "We were watching — we were so, so happy."

The landmark run, achieved under official race conditions, eclipsed the previous world record of 2:00:35 set by Kelvin Kiptum, also a Kenyan, in 2023 and marked the first time a marathon has been completed in under two hours in a competitive setting.

For Sawe, the victory marked the culmination of years of steady progression in long-distance running. Speaking after the race, he dedicated the achievement to the wider running community, saying the moment belonged not just to him, but to all those who had supported the journey.

"I think I've made history today in London, and for the new generation (it shows) to run a record is possible," Sawe said. "It depends on the preparation you had and the discipline you had, so for me, I think I have shown them that nothing is impossible."

Tributes and congratulatory messages came from leaders and institutions around the world, describing the achievement as a moment of "African greatness on the world stage" and a source of national pride.

Kenya's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Maurice Makoloo said on Monday that the milestone reflected not only individual excellence, but collective effort.

Makoloo described the moment as symbolic of Kenya's identity and global presence. "Marathons tell the story of a people — of discipline, focus, and hard work," he said. "In a way, we brought Kenya to the world, and also invited the world to Kenya. It was truly a moment of pure magic."

He added that the achievement was the result of years of consistent progress by Kenyan runners. "Kenyans have been knocking on this barrier for a long time," he said. "It was only a matter of time before we reached here."

Kenyan President William Ruto, called the performance "history made" and congratulated Sawe for "smashing the two-hour marathon barrier," adding that the achievement had cemented Kenya's place as a global athletics powerhouse.

Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei also praised Sawe for his historic world record hailing it as a momentous achievement for Kenyan athletics, adding that Sawe's historic moment is a testament to dedication and talent.

He said it is a proud moment for Kenya and that it reinforces the country's legacy as the global home of distance running excellence.

As celebrations continue from London to rural Kenya, Sawe's achievement is being seen not only as a personal triumph, but as a defining moment for the sport — one that could reshape marathon running and inspire a new generation of athletes worldwide.