Sabastian Sawe Takes Home Top Global Honor After Golden 2025 Season

Kenyan major marathon winner Sabastian Sawe has been crowned World Athletics’ Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year during Sunday night's glittering awards gala in Monaco. 

The prestigious accolade cements Sawe’s status as the undisputed king of the roads following a dominant 2025 season that saw him conquer two of the world’s most competitive marathons.

The London Marathon champion secured the top honor following a comprehensive two-month process that combined public voting with the deliberations of the World Athletics Council. 

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Google News, Stay informed with Latest Sport News

Sawe’s victory was announced amidst a gathering of the sport’s elite where his remarkable consistency and speed over the classic 42.195km distance were celebrated as the defining athletic achievements of the year.

Accepting the "top gong," Sawe appeared visibly moved, acknowledging the fierce competition he faced for the award. 

The win comes after what pundits have described as a "plentiful harvest" for the Kenyan star, who has transitioned from a promising talent into a global superstar in the road race scene. 

By securing the title, he joins an elite list of Kenyan legends who have been recognized at the highest level of global athletics, further solidifying the East African nation's supremacy in distance running.

Sawe’s journey to the podium in Monaco began in earnest in April this year, when he produced a masterful performance to win his first-ever London Marathon title.

 Navigating a world-class field, he clocked a stunning 2:02:27, a time that immediately marked him as the man to beat for the rest of the season. It was a victory of patience and power, announcing his arrival as a major marathon force.

In October, Sawe returned to the roads for the Berlin Marathon, a course known for its world-record potential.

 He followed up his London triumph with another spectacular victory, crossing the finish line in 2:02:16. 

This feat meant he held the top two marathon performances of the 2025 calendar year, a rare dominance that made his claim for the award undeniable.

 These victories came less than a year after his memorable marathon debut in Valencia, where he clocked his current personal best (PB)3 of 2:02:05, proving that his 2025 success was no fluke but the continuation of a prodigious rise.

The road to the award was far from easy, as Sawe was up against a formidable list of nominees. Chief among his rivals was Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu, the reigning World Marathon Champion and Boston Marathon runner-up. 

The shortlist showcased the incredible diversity of out-of-stadium athletics. It included Brazil’s Caio Bonfim, the World 20km race walk champion and 35km silver medallist, and Canada’s Evan Dunfee, who claimed the World 35km race walk title along with multiple records. 

Also in contention was Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, a powerhouse who led the world 5km and 10km lists with historic times.