Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe upstaged Olympic champions and world record holders to claim a decisive victory at the 2025 TCS London Marathon. Sawe has now announced himself as the sport’s newest powerhouse in a race that redefined East Africa’s marathon hierarchy.
Race Breakdown
Sebastian Sawe shattered a nine-man lead pack after 30 kilometres, unleashing a 4:18-mile surge at 35K that left Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola and Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo scrambling in his wake. The 30-year-old Kenyan, competing in only his second marathon, maintained a metronomic sub-2:03:30 pace through the final 10 kilometres as defending champion Alexander Mutiso and four-time London winner Eliud Kipchoge faded from contention.
Key Moments of Sebastian Sawe at the TCS London Marathon
-
Mile 21: Sawe accelerated past Kipchoge near Canary Wharf, triggering a decisive break.
-
Mile 23: Kiplimo attempted a counter-surge but collapsed to a 4:35-mile split, ceding 17 seconds.
- Final stretch: Sawe crossed the line unchallenged, though organisers withheld his official time pending course verification.
The victory catapults Sawe from half-marathon specialist to marathon royalty, mirroring Kelvin Kiptum’s meteoric rise before his 2023 death. His tactical aggression – avoiding early pacing duties before annihilating the field – directly challenged Kipchoge’s signature steady-race philosophy.
Sebastian Sawe Athlete Early Reactions
“I came to run my own race, not to follow legends,” Sawe told BBC Sport post-race. Kipchoge, who placed outside the top five, acknowledged “the marathon’s brutal honesty” in a statement to race organisers.
The result solidifies Kenya’s marathon dominance following Kiptum’s death, with Sawe joining Mutiso and 2024 Boston winner Evans Chebet in a new “Big Three.” Analysts predict Sawe’s Valencia-London double positions him for a World Marathon Majors sweep in 2025-2026. Race organisers confirmed Sawe’s time will undergo World Athletics certification within 72 hours. The Kenyan now eyes a potential world record attempt, with Berlin 2025 emerging as the likely target.
