‘I did not expect it’: Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe welcomed home with…
Kenya's Sebastian Sawe has returned home to joyous scenes after becoming the first man to run a marathon in under two hours in competitive race conditions. His incredible achievement at the London Marathon on Sunday is being celebrated in Kenya, where officials welcomed him home in the midst of a crush of cameras at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the capital Nairobi. His parents were also present to greet him, days after he achieved the holy grail of marathon running by becoming the first man to finish under two hours with an official time of 01:59:30.
Speaking from the family home before going to the airport, Sawe's father Simeon Sawe said: "He used to tell me that one day, he was going to break the record. Sawe was on already on pace to defeat the record as he crossed the halfway mark in 1:00:29, and managed to run the second half of the race even faster in just 59:01. Sawe, who has won all four marathons he has entered, is already talking about his next competition in the autumn, saying he believes he can run an even faster time.
Analysis: Why This Matters
This story matters because events involving Kenya's Sabastian can ripple across regions and shape diplomatic conversations.
Key Takeaways
- Sawe is expected to meet Kenya's President William Ruto.
- The Kenyan Airways plane on which Sawe flew home was given a water cannon salute when it arrived, as dancers and musicians performed.
- Speaking from the family home before going to the airport, Sawe's father Simeon Sawe said: "He used to tell me that one day, he was going to break the record.
We'll follow up as official statements and on-the-ground reporting emerge.
Source: BBC World