Sabastian Sawe has pulled out of next month's Berlin Marathon due to injury. It was set to be his first race at the distance since becoming the first man to break two hours in a record-eligible marathon in April’s London Marathon.

Background: The 31-year-old Kenyan won his second consecutive London Marathon title in 1:59:30, taking down Kelvin Kiptum's world record of 2:00:35 from the 2023 Chicago Marathon. Eliud Kipchoge broke the two-hour barrier in the marathon with a 1:59:40 at an exhibition race in Vienna in 2019, but it was not record-eligible because of a rotating cast of pacemakers and mobile fueling.

Sawe won in Berlin in 2025 in 2:02:16, the fastest marathon in the world that year, in hot and humid conditions. He had been open about his hopes of lowering his own world record. Berlin’s course has produced eight men's world records since 2003.

What Sawe Said: “It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that I am forced to withdraw from the Berlin Marathon. I had been looking forward to achieving something special on the streets of Berlin and crossing the finish line at the Brandenburg Gate. It was also my wish to give something back to the race and its organizers, who have supported me so much. I want to thank my fans and everyone who continues to support me, and I wish all the runners taking part a great race. I hope they can enjoy the moment, trust the work they have done and be proud of what they achieve in Berlin. I look forward to seeing you again soon at the starting line in Berlin."

Between the lines: No specifics were shared on the injury or a recovery timeline. If Sawe elects to race another fall marathon, the New York City Marathon is Nov. 1st. The Valencia Marathon, which he won in 2024, is on Dec. 6th and features London Marathon runner-up and fellow sub-two-hour marathoner Yomif Kejelcha.

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