“Impossible is Nothing” is a prominent Adidas brand slogan and campaign aimed at inspiring optimism, pushing boundaries, and overcoming limitations in sports and life. And on Sunday, 26 April, Adidas-sponsored Sabastian Sawe, who has been the most tested athlete by Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) in the past year, rewrote the history books, running the classic distance at the London Marathon in 1:59:30.
Sawe shattered the official world record of 2:00:35 set by the late Kelvin Kiptum at the 2023 Chicago Marathon, also going under the unofficial former record holder Eliud Kipchoge’s time of 1:59:40.2 in 2019.
Kipchoge, whose tag of ‘No Human is Limited’ made the world believe that the two-hour barrier mark would be broken, was among the first to congratulate his countryman in an elaborate statement, saying;
Today is a historic day for marathon running! Seeing two athletes break the magical 2-hour barrier at the London Marathon is proof that we are just at the beginning of what is possible when talent, progress and an unwavering belief in human potential come together. My deepest congratulations to both Sebastian Sawe and Yomif Kejelcha.
Breaking the sub-two-hour barrier in the marathon has long been a dream for runners everywhere, and today, you’ve made that dream come true, he continues.
On October 12, 2019, Kipchoge became the first person to run a marathon distance under two hours, finishing in 1:59:40.2 during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, Austria. The historic feat featured optimised conditions, a rotating team of
During the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, we showed the world that it was possible, and it has always been my hope to see another athlete continue with this belief and break this magical barrier in a city marathon. Let this achievement inspire the next generation and remind everyone in the world that No Human Is Limited.
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