I Dominated the Legends — Sebastian Sawe Reacts After Beating Eliud Kipchoge at London Marathon

Sawe who went on to win the men s race, passes across Tower Bridge during London Marathon 2025. ©Imago

I Dominated the Legends — Sebastian Sawe Reacts After Beating Eliud Kipchoge at London Marathon

Festus Chuma 19:11 - 27.04.2025

In his second marathon, Sebastian Sawe stunned the world by defeating Eliud Kipchoge to win the 2025 London Marathon dominantly.

Kenya’s rising star Sebastian Sawe delivered a stunning performance at the 2025 London Marathon, pulling away from a star-studded field that included race favorite and marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge.

Sawe, 29, crossed the finish line in 2:02:25, sealing a dominant victory and sending a clear message that a new marathon force has emerged on the world stage.

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Despite the presence of heavyweights like Kipchoge, defending champion Alexander Mutiso Munyao, Olympic champion Tamirat Tola, and world half-marathon record holder Jacob Kiplimo, Sawe made a bold move after the 31-kilometer mark (19.26 miles) that none of his rivals could match.

"I am so happy. This is my fastest time for the London Marathon," Sawe told BBC One shortly after his emphatic win.

"I was well prepared for this race and that is why it is an honour for me to have won."

Sawe’s celebration was as commanding as his run; he raised his arms high and stuck out his tongue as he powered down the final stretch.

Having moved away decisively around the 16-mile mark, he ran negative splits to build an insurmountable lead, finishing a full minute and 10 seconds ahead of his closest challenger.

Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, making his marathon debut, crossed the line in second place in 2:03:37, showing his potential for future success over the full 42.195 kilometers.

Meanwhile, the battle for third was decided by a photo finish between Alexander Mutiso Munyao and Dutch star Abdi Nageeye.

Initially, Nageeye was awarded third place, but after a review, officials corrected the result to give Mutiso the podium spot with a time of 2:04:20.

Kipchoge eventually finished sixth, clocking 2:05:25—a respectable time, but far from his best on a day that belonged to the younger Kenyan.

Sawe’s latest triumph builds on his victory at the Valencia Marathon just four months earlier, where he ran the fifth-fastest marathon in history.

Though he fell short of breaking the late Kelvin Kiptum’s London course record of 2:01:25, Sawe’s performance leaves no doubt about his growing stature in the sport.

His London victory, especially against a field featuring Eliud Kipchoge, solidifies him as a new superstar in long-distance running.

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