It was pomp and colour at Eldoret International Airport on Thursday as world marathon record holder Sabastian Sawe received a rousing homecoming in the city fondly known as the “Home of Champions.”
Sawe made history on Sunday by clocking 1:59:30 to win the London Marathon, becoming the first athlete to officially break the two-hour barrier in a competitive race. The late Kelvin Kiptum set the previous record of 2:00:35 at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.
The 30-year-old arrived at Eldoret at exactly 2:58pm aboard a Kenya Air Force C-145 Skytruck, which received a ceremonial water salute before taxiing to the apron, where family, friends and fans awaited.
Heroic welcome: The new Marathon World Record holder, Sabastian Sawe, second (right), accompanied by Amos Kipruto (left), is welcomed by Nandi County Governor Stephen Sang (right), and Uasin Gishu County Deputy Governor Evans Kapkea, after landing at Eldoret International Airport in Eldoret City, Uasin Gishu County, in a Kenya Air Force aircraft on April 30, 2026.
He had earlier been welcomed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Wednesday night by government officials, Athletics Kenya representatives and supporters upon his arrival from Germany.
Sawe, accompanied by training partner Amos Kipruto—who finished fourth in London—was received by his wife Lydia Jerono, who presented him with a bouquet of flowers.
In a culturally symbolic ceremony, Sawe was adorned with sinendet, a sacred plant associated with heroism in the Kalenjin community. His mother, Emily Sawe, then handed him a gourd of fermented milk (mursik) for a ceremonial sip.
Visibly moved, Sawe thanked Kenyans for the overwhelming welcome.
“It has been celebrations since I arrived in Nairobi, and I’m at a loss for words. I have competed for years and never received such a huge reception. I thank everyone who turned out to celebrate this moment with me,” he said.
The new Marathon World Record Holder, Sabastian Sawe (centre), accompanied by Amos Kipruto (left), is welcomed by his wife, Lydia Jerono Sawe, after landing at Eldoret International Airport in Eldoret City, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya, in a Kenya Air Force aircraft on April 30, 2026.
The back-to-back London Marathon champion, who was also hosted for breakfast by William Ruto at State House Nairobi, said he will take a short break before resuming training.
President William Ruto hands over a customized motor vehicle number plate to world marathon record holder Sebastian Sawe at State House, Nairobi. Sawe won the London Marathon on Sunday, with a new world marathon record of 1 hour 59.30 seconds.
Kipruto praised Sawe’s achievement, noting it had inspired fellow athletes.
“We celebrate Sawe for becoming the first man to run under two hours in a competitive race. I’m proud to have been part of that race, where I also ran a personal best,” he said.
Stephen Sang, who was among leaders present, said Sawe’s feat had uplifted the nation and motivated the next generation of athletes.
“Sawe has made Kenya proud and shown that nothing is impossible. Young athletes will now believe they too can break records,” he said.
Also in attendance were members of Sawe’s training camp, including Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, New York Marathon champion Benson Kipruto, former world 10,000m bronze medallist Margaret Chelimo, as well as Lilian Kasait and Cybrian Kotut.