Kenyan marathon world record holder Sebastian Sawe has announced his withdrawal from the Berlin Marathon, set for Sunday, September 27, 2026, due to an undisclosed injury. Sawe, 31, shared the news on Instagram, expressing his disappointment but did not specify the nature of his injury.

The Berlin Marathon was to be Sawe's first race since April 2026, when he became the first man to break the two-hour barrier in a marathon, clocking 1:59:30 to win the London Marathon. Sawe had previously won the 2025 Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:02:16, overcoming challenging heat and humidity conditions and running without a pacemaker from the 24th kilometer onward.

The Berlin course is known for its flat terrain, making it a favored venue for record attempts. Sawe's world record may face a challenge on December 6, 2026, when Ethiopian runner Yomif Kejelcha, who finished 11 seconds behind Sawe in London and recently set a world half-marathon record of 56:51, is scheduled to compete in the Valencia Marathon, another fast course.

Following his record-breaking performance in London, Sawe was celebrated with a hero's welcome in Kenya, including accolades from fans and a gift of cash and a car from the country's president.

Sources