World Record Holder Sabastian Sawe Returns to the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
This year’s BMW BERLIN-MARATHON will take place on September 27, 2026. Around 60,000 athletes from approximately 160 countries are expected to participate – including runners, wheelchair athletes, handbikers, and skaters. Among the elite runners, world record holder Sabastian Sawe has already confirmed his participation in Berlin.
Sabastian Sawe also competed in last year’s BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. Despite warm conditions with temperatures reaching up to 25 degrees Celsius, the Kenyan achieved what was then the ninth-fastest marathon time ever recorded. It was described as a “warm-weather world record.” With a world-leading time of 2:02:16 hours, he won the 2025 race in Berlin.
This year, Sawe set a new world record at the London Marathon with a time of 1:59:30 hours. Never before had a human being completed the official marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers in under two hours during an official competition. While still in London, the Kenyan hinted in a conversation with Race Director Mark Milde that he intended to return to Berlin. Now, Sebastian Sawe has officially announced his return to Berlin.
I am very happy to return to BMW BERLIN-MARATHON this year and to defend my title. Many people may be wondering what my goals are this time round. After coming off my win in London and sub-2 performance, I can only say that, like always, I plan to prepare myself to the best of my ability and to come to Berlin to honor this great event and organization which have invited me, and to run as well and fast as possible. Then on the day we will see what will happen. I look at again experiencing the fantastic atmosphere and crowds that line the course.
As SCC EVENTS, we are absolutely delighted to welcome Sabastian Sawe back to the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. With his impressive development over the past months and his historic world record, he has firmly written his name into the history books of marathon running. The fact that Sabastian consciously chose to return to Berlin is a great recognition of the global standing of our event and its fast course. His words also demonstrate the respect and appreciation he has for the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON and the Berlin spectators. If all conditions are right on race day, the weather cooperates, and Sabastian arrives at the start line in top form, then anything is possible,
said BMW BERLIN-MARATHON Race Director Mark Milde.
