Adidas Inducted Sawe and Kejelcha Into Hall of Fame
The marathon record-setters received the honor following their historic performances at the London Marathon.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Running
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Adidas has officially inducted runners Sabastian Sawe and Yomif Kejelcha into the Adidas Hall of Fame. The honors follow a series of record-breaking results at the London Marathon earlier this year.
Why it matters
The recognition celebrates the elite athletic achievements of these runners, whose recent performances have redefined the limits of human endurance in long-distance racing.
Sabastian Sawe recorded a marathon world record time of 1:59:30, lowering the previous mark by 65 seconds. In the same race, Yomif Kejelcha finished in 1:59:41, while Jacob Kiplimo crossed the line in 2:00:28.
The players
Sabastian Sawe
He is a professional distance runner who currently holds the men's marathon world record.
Yomif Kejelcha
He is an elite long-distance athlete who achieved a sub-two-hour finish at the London Marathon.
Adidas
The global sportswear manufacturer manages its own Hall of Fame to honor world-class athletes.
Kelvin Kiptum
He is a distance runner who previously held the men's marathon world record before the 2026 season.
Jacob Kiplimo
He is a professional runner who competed in the London Marathon alongside the world-record pace.
The details
Sawe secured his historic victory by executing a decisive move with one mile remaining in the London Marathon, pulling away from the pack to claim the top spot. Both Sawe and Kejelcha have been formally recognized by Adidas for their contributions to the sport.
Timeline
October 8, 2023: Kelvin Kiptum set the previous marathon world record in Chicago.
April 26, 2026: Sabastian Sawe set a new world record at the London Marathon.
September 24, 2026: Sawe issued a statement regarding his induction.
The Big Picture
This achievement follows the pattern set by Kelvin Kiptum's 2:00:35 marathon record, which previously pushed the limits of professional long-distance racing. The new sub-two-hour time marks a significant evolution in the discipline by setting a faster benchmark.
Sawe's time of 1:59:30 officially establishes a new global benchmark for the marathon distance. The results confirm that three of the top performers in the race finished under the 2:00:35 threshold, signaling a new era for elite speed in long-distance competition.
The takeaway
The breaking of the two-hour barrier in marathons highlights a rapid acceleration in human athletic performance. Fans can look for future events to see if this sub-two-hour pace becomes the new standard for elite competition.
Further reading
For more on professional distance events, explore the Running section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nairobi Leo.
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