Kenyan marathon world record holder Sebastian Kimaru Sawe has been inducted into the Adidas Hall of Fame, marking another milestone after his historic sub‑two‑hour run at the 2026 London Marathon.
On April 26, 2026, Sawe won the TCS London Marathon in a world record time of 1:59:30, becoming the first man ever to break the two‑hour barrier in an official, record‑eligible race.
He finished ahead of Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who also ran under two hours with 1:59:41, while Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo came third in 2:00:28.
The performance cut more than a minute off the previous mark of 2:00:35 set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in 2023.
Sawe was formally inducted on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at Adidas’ global headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany, in a ceremony attended by Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden and members of the brand’s team.
He was honoured alongside Kejelcha, linking the award directly to their head‑to‑head battle in London.
As part of the tribute, Sawe’s footprint was permanently immortalized at the Adidas headquarters as a physical reminder of his barrier‑breaking feat.
Reflecting on the recognition, Sawe said the honour was unexpected and represented a special moment after years of training, competition and support.
“Being honoured alongside Yomif Kejelcha made the occasion truly memorable,” he said. “It is a privilege to have my journey, the hard work, the sacrifices and the people who have been part of it recognized in this way.
Earlier in the season, Sawe was forced to withdraw from defending his title at the Berlin Marathon after picking up a leg injury.
He has since focused on full medical treatment and rehabilitation before planning his return to elite racing.
During the induction, he ran in the minimalist, lightweight Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, the shoe model he wore for his London world record.
