Sebastian Sawe was honoured at Adidas headquarters in Germany following his world-record victory at the 2026 London Marathon.
The Kenyan marathon world record holder was honoured alongside Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha in Germany after their sub-two-hour performances in London.
Kenyan marathon world record holder Sebastian Kimaru Sawe has earned a place in the Adidas Hall of Fame.
The honour adds to a remarkable season that saw him make history at the 2026 London Marathon.
Adidas inducted Sawe on Thursday, September 24, during a ceremony at its global headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany.
The event brought together company executives, including the Adidas chief executive, and members of the brand’s global team.
Adidas also honoured Ethiopian distance runner Yomif Kejelcha during the ceremony.
The recognition came months after both athletes produced historic performances in London.
London victory rewrote the record
Sawe won the 2026 TCS London Marathon on April 26 in a world-record time of 1:59:30.
The performance made him the first athlete to run an official, record-eligible marathon in under two hours.
Kejelcha finished second in 1:59:41.
Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo placed third with a time of 2:00:28.
Sawe broke the previous world record of 2:00:35.
The late Kenyan runner Kelvin Kiptum set that mark in 2023.
Sawe lowered the record by more than one minute.
His achievement marked one of the most significant moments in marathon history.
Adidas recognised both Sawe and Kejelcha for becoming the first athletes to complete an official marathon in under two hours.
A permanent tribute in Germany
As part of the induction, Adidas permanently preserved Sawe’s footprint at its headquarters.
The tribute will serve as a lasting reminder of his record-breaking achievement.
Speaking after the ceremony, Sawe described the honour as special and unexpected.
He said the recognition reflected years of hard work, training and dedication.
Sawe also acknowledged the support he received throughout his career.
He noted that sharing the occasion with Kejelcha made the moment even more memorable.
During the induction ceremony, Sawe wore the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3.
The same shoe helped him achieve his historic world record in London.
Recovery remains the next priority
The celebration comes as Sawe continues his recovery from injury.
Earlier in the season, he withdrew from the Berlin Marathon after suffering a leg injury.
The setback forced him to abandon plans to defend his title in the German capital.
Since then, Sawe has focused on treatment and rehabilitation.
His immediate goal remains a full recovery before returning to elite competition.
The Hall of Fame induction offers a fitting tribute during that recovery period.
It recognises the London performance that secured Sawe’s place in marathon history while he works towards his return to racing.
