Kenyan runner Sebastian Sawe, the first man to complete a marathon in under two hours, expressed confidence that faster marathon times lie ahead for both himself and the sport. Sawe, who broke the two-hour barrier with a time of 1:59:30 in London in April, said he believes running below 1:59:00 is achievable under the right conditions, including favorable weather, good pacing, and peak physical form.

The 31-year-old, who won the 2025 Berlin Marathon, acknowledged the role technology and growing popularity of distance running may play in helping athletes push the limits further. “There are no limits for now,” Sawe said, adding that while future breakthroughs might come from other competitors, he remains optimistic about improving his own records.

Sawe admitted his sub-two-hour performance surpassed his expectations. “I was not expecting to run under two hours,” he said. “I wanted to retain my title. When I saw the time as I was nearing the finish, it was surprising for me, and I was so happy and grateful.” Although he planned to defend his title at the Berlin Marathon this year, Sawe was forced to withdraw due to a fractured leg. He said coming to terms with injury is part of the sport and emphasized the importance of patience and recovery.

Looking ahead, Sawe hopes to compete again in London in 2027 and aims to make an impact at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. “Now I’m getting to be someone bigger in athletics, I’ve learned a lot and I’ve learned patience is important and recovery is important to make you feel fast and strong,” he said.

Sawe made his comments in Berlin, where the day before, Ethiopian runner Tigst Assefa suffered a severe injury during the women’s marathon. While running at world record pace, Assefa ruptured her Achilles tendon around the 35-kilometer mark. Despite the injury, she managed to complete the race, finishing first with the third-best women’s marathon time ever recorded and setting a course record before collapsing at the finish line.

Sawe described Assefa’s performance as astonishing and expressed sympathy for her situation. “She was running a good race this year in Berlin. Everything was perfect for her. She was running to achieve everything she had worked for,” he said.

He also expressed confidence that Assefa, 29, will continue to pursue world records. “For sure she will because Tigst is a very strong woman and her mentality is something else. She always has the courage to push her limits. She’s always been a winner,” Sawe said.

The recent events underscore the physical challenges elite marathon runners face, even as advancements in training, equipment, and competition push the sport into new territory.