‘You have made the impossible possible!’ – President Ruto hails Sawe’s record-breaking marathon run

Presidential Recognition of a Historic Achievement

Kenyan President William Ruto welcomed marathon world record holder Sabastian Sawe at Kenya’s State House in Nairobi on Thursday, praising his achievement as a milestone that ‘made the impossible possible’.

“Sebastian, you have not only broken a record. You have expanded the horizon of human potential. You have done what many believed could not be done,” Ruto said.

Your victory also extends Kenya’s proud and unbroken dominance in marathon running […] You have inspired a nation, you have inspired a whole generation, and you have inspired the world,” he added.

Rapid Rise from Pacemaker to Global Star

Sawe has quickly become one of the leading names in marathon running after a sudden rise from pacemaker to world record holder in just a few years.

He first drew attention in 2022 when he won the Seville Half Marathon despite starting as a pacemaker, then confirmed his potential with a 2:02:05 marathon debut in Valencia in 2024, the second-fastest debut in history.

Record-Breaking Performances on the World Stage

His breakthrough continued with major wins in London and Berlin in 2025, where he consistently ran around the 2:02 mark against elite fields.

However, his defining performance came when he ran 1:59:30 in London to break the marathon world record under competitive conditions, becoming the first athlete to officially go under two hours in a sanctioned race.

Training, Motivation, and Future Ambitions

“I did it for the sake of us all, to elevate the name of our country so it continues to shine brightly, and it is a joy for us all. I just say thank you, and we will continue to put effort into our talents and elevate the name of our nation to remain right at the top,” Sawe explained.

His progress has been helped by training at high altitude in Kenya, running about 200km each week, and improved race nutrition strategies, and despite injury setbacks before London, Sawe believes he can run even faster in the future.