No world title plans for Sabastian Sawe in 2026
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Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 05.01.26. | 11:13
He has now won all three of his marathons to date, running well inside 2:03 for all of them
Reigning World Half Marathon champion Sebastian Sawe will be chasing more marathon glory this season, having confirmed that he will not be defending his world half title in September, 2026 in Copenhagen.
In 2023, Sawe led a Kenyan sweep at the inaugural World Road Running Championships, but the World Athletics Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year award winner says he is done with the distance.
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“I’m now a full marathon runner. I’ve moved on from the half marathon, so I won’t be defending my title at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen. I’ll do a marathon in the spring, but we can’t announce which one it is yet," he told World Athletics.
His last race in the distance dates back to 15 September 2024, a 58:05 performance at the Copenhagen Half before his marathon debut in Valencia on 1 December 2024 where he won in a world-leading time of 2:02:05.
He had a successful 2025, winning two marathon majors. In April, in what was just his second ever race at the distance, he won the London Marathon by more than a minute in 2:02:27.
Five months later, he won the Berlin Marathon in a world-leading 2:02:16 and finished four minutes ahead of his nearest rival. He has now won all three of his marathons to date, running well inside 2:03 for all of them.
He will be chasing more marathon glory this year, having already conquered two Majors. Ahead of his Berlin race in September 2025, the Kenyan launched a special anti-doping program, where he contacted the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) to subject him to at least 25 unannounced tests in the two months before the race.
The tests began on 25 July and were run independently by AIU using advanced lab protocols, with adidas his main sponsor covering the costs. Sawe said the step was meant to remove doubt over his performances at a time when Kenyan athletes are under intense scrutiny.
Sawe, who trains in Kapsabet, Nandi County says his strength comes from consistency and the people he has around him. "I train with a strong group of athletes, and the environment is very good for long-distance running."
"Training in a strong team pushes you. When everyone is working hard, it motivates you to keep improving because you’re always challenging each other. My focus is on having a good training environment and working hard. Consistency is very important," he further offered.
His quick rise in the distance has seen him establish himself as a torch bearer for Kenya's distance running at a time when the Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T) Eliud Kipchoge has stepped away from competitive racing. He also shoulders the burden of carrying on the legacy of World Record holder late Kelvin Kiptum who was tipped to be the first to go sub 2:00 hours in the classic distance.
Sawe believes nothing is impossible.
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