Sebastian Sawe Breaks Two‑Hour Marathon Barrier as London Marathon Sets Charity Record

Context Eliud Kipchoge ran 1:59:40 in 2019, but that time was not ratified as a world record due to non‑standard pacing and shoe rules. The London Marathon has grown into a major global race, attracting over 59,000 finishers in 2025 and setting a finisher record of 56,640 the previous year.

Key Facts Sawe crossed the line in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds, beating the previous men’s world record of 2:00:35 set in Chicago 2023. Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha also dipped under two hours with a 1:59:41 finish, while Uganda’s Jacob Kiplomo placed third at 2:00:28. In the women’s race, Tigst Assefa improved her own world‑only mark to 2:15:41. The marathon generated £87.3 million ($118 million) for charitable causes, surpassing all prior one‑day fundraising events.

What It Means Sawe’s ratified sub‑two‑hour run marks a new benchmark for elite marathon performance under standard competition conditions. The charity total demonstrates the event’s growing capacity to mobilize large‑scale philanthropy alongside athletic achievement. Together, these outcomes highlight the marathon’s dual role as a sporting milestone and a fundraising powerhouse.

Watch for ratification discussions from World Athletics, upcoming major marathons that may target the two‑hour mark, and whether future London editions will push the charity total beyond £90 million.