President William Ruto proudly held aloft the Kenyan flag handed to him by marathon champion Sabastian Sawe, April 30, 2026. /PCS
World marathon record holder Sabastian Sawe was on Thursday hosted at State House, Nairobi by President William Ruto in a ceremony celebrating his historic performance.
On arrival, Sawe was received by a police officer who handed him the national flag, before he proceeded along a red carpet laid out for him towards the President, who was waiting at the entrance.
The two warmly embraced and exchanged brief pleasantries, reflecting the significance of the achievement.
During the meeting, Sawe presented the iconic featherlight Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 shoes he wore when he broke the record in London on April 26.
He clocked 1:59:30, becoming the first man in history to run a competitive marathon in under two hours.
President Ruto commended his performance, praising it as a milestone for Kenyan athletics and global sport.
In recognition of the feat, Ruto later awarded Sawe a state reward of Sh3 million.
The event underscored Kenya’s continued dominance in long-distance running and the government’s commitment to supporting elite athletes.
It highlighted national pride, celebrated athletic excellence and reinforced ongoing investment in sports development, while inspiring upcoming runners across the country to pursue world-class performance on the global stage.
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