It feels right that on the day the world record was broken, we look back at the man who proved the 2-hour marathon barrier was made of glass.
For those who may not know, this milestone is deeply bittersweet. The previous world record holder, Kelvin Kiptum—who ran an incredible 2:00:35 in Chicago—tragically passed away in a car crash in Kenya alongside his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, shortly after being ratified as the world record holder.
He was only 24 years old and was the heavy favorite to be the first man to do exactly what Sawe did today.
He wasn't here to defend his record, but his impact on distance running is permanent. Thinking of his family and the Kenyan community today. 🇰🇪
We celebrate the new record holder, but we will never forget the man who was gone far too soon. 🕊️