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 been inducted into the Adidas Hall of Fame, adding another honour to a season defined by his historic performance at the 2026 London Marathon.
Sawe received the recognition on Thursday, September 24, at the sportswear company’s global headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany. The ceremony was attended by the Adidas chief executive and members of the brand’s team.
The Kenyan was honoured alongside Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who finished second behind him in London. Their joint recognition followed a race in which both athletes completed the marathon in under two hours.
London victory rewrote the record
On April 26, 2026, Sawe won the TCS London Marathon in 1:59:30, becoming the first man to break the two-hour barrier in an official, record-eligible marathon.
Kejelcha followed in 1:59:41, while Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo took third place in 2:00:28. Sawe’s winning time lowered the previous world record of 2:00:35, set by the late Kenyan runner Kelvin Kiptum in 2023, by more than a minute.
The London result put Sawe at the centre of a landmark moment in marathon running. His Hall of Fame induction recognised that achievement, while Kejelcha’s inclusion acknowledged the Ethiopian’s own sub-two-hour performance in the same race.
A permanent tribute in Germany
As part of the ceremony, Sawe’s footprint was preserved permanently at the Adidas headquarters, creating a lasting tribute to his record-breaking run.
Reflecting on the occasion, Sawe described the honour as unexpected and special. He said it represented recognition of the years of training and competition behind his success, as well as the support he had received throughout his career.
He also pointed to the hard work, sacrifices and people involved in his journey, saying that being recognised alongside Kejelcha made the occasion particularly memorable.
During the induction, Sawe ran in the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3. The minimalist, lightweight shoe model was also the one he wore when setting the world record in London.
Recovery remains the next priority
The celebration came after an injury interrupted Sawe’s racing plans. Earlier in the season, he withdrew from his planned Berlin Marathon title defence after suffering a leg injury.
Since that withdrawal, his focus has been on medical treatment and rehabilitation before planning a return to elite competition. His recovery remains the immediate step ahead of resuming his racing programme.
The induction therefore marks a moment of recognition during that recovery period: a tribute to the London performance that secured his place in marathon history, even as his next competitive chapter remains dependent on his return to fitness.
