Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe has turned a historic London Marathon victory into a possible Ksh129 million payday. Sawe stunned the athletics world on Sunday after running the first official sub-two-hour marathon. He crossed the finish line in 1:59:30, breaking the previous world record of 2:00:35, set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in 2023.
His pace pushed the entire race into record-breaking territory. Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha finished second in 1:59:41 on his marathon debut. Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo came third in 2:00:28, also beating Kiptum’s former world record.
The victory already guarantees Sawe a major financial reward. He will receive the London Marathon winner’s prize of $55,000, about Ksh7.1 million. He also qualifies for a $125,000 world-record bonus, worth about Ksh16.1 million. Sawe will earn another $25,000, about Ksh3.2 million, for breaking the London Marathon course record. The previous course record stood at 2:01:25 before Sunday’s race.
He could also benefit from a time bonus after running under 2:02:00. That brings his official race earnings to a significant amount before private payments come into play.
The bigger reward may come from sponsorships and appearance fees. Sawe wore Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 shoes during the race. The shoe features advanced foam and a carbon plate, designed for elite marathon performance.
Adidas has invested heavily in the Kenyan marathoner. His historic run gives the brand a powerful global marketing moment. Sponsors often reward elite athletes for breaking world records, course records and major time barriers.
These bonuses usually remain private. Athlete representatives negotiate them directly with sponsors and race organisers. However, reports in Kenya suggest Sawe could earn close to $1 million, or about Ksh129 million, from the race. That figure would include official prize money, appearance fees and private performance bonuses.
Sawe’s achievement also carries deep sporting meaning. Eliud Kipchoge ran under 2 hours in 2019, but that race was run under controlled conditions. It did not count as an official world record.
Sawe has now crossed the barrier in a competitive, record-eligible marathon. His performance changed the history of distance running. For Kenya, the victory strengthens the country’s proud place in global athletics. For Sawe, it marks his rise from elite marathoner to global sporting icon.
In less than two hours, he broke a world record, changed marathon history and placed himself in line for one of the biggest paydays in the sport.
