GoKawiilSabastian Sawe has always had a propensity to surprise.
Having never competed on the road, the Kenyan began the 2022 Seville half marathon as a pacemaker, proceeded to drop everybody within the first 10km, and carried on to claim victory in a course record time.
Running the second-fastest marathon debut in history in Valencia in 2024, Sawe again hinted at his potential.
That time of two hours two minutes five seconds was only 12 seconds slower than the late Kelvin Kiptum's first marathon two years earlier, before Kiptum went on to break the world record in Chicago in 2023.
There were signs.
But they were far from sufficient to prepare anyone for the momentous occasion which unfolded on a perfect April morning in London on Sunday.
Sporting immortality, secured in 1:59:30.
Speaking to BBC Sport 24 hours after making history as the first person to run a sub-two-hour marathon in a competitive race, Sawe said the time came as a surprise even to him, with his focus primarily on retaining his title.
"It was not in my mind. I was well prepared for this year's London Marathon, but what comes surprised me because I was not thinking to run a world record."
But Sawe, 31, says he can go even faster.
... continue reading