All 21 runners who set world records at the 2026 London Marathon, with Sabastian Sawe breaking the two-hour barrier
Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe made history on Sunday by becoming the first person to run the London Marathon in under two hours! But what about the everyday runners who also set amazing records?
Sawe finished with an incredible time of 1:59.30, making him only the second person ever to break the two-hour mark in an official marathon. Before him, fellow Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum held the world record with 2:00.35 from 2023. Sadly, Kiptum and his coach passed away in a car accident in February 2024.
Amazing as well, Sawe and two other runners—Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha and Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo—beat Kiptum’s time. Kejelcha also broke two hours, finishing just 11 seconds slower than Sawe.
On the women’s side, Tigst Assefa set a new world record with a time of 2:15.41, beating her own previous best by nine seconds and successfully defending her London Marathon title from 2025.
Sawe and Assefa won the elite marathon races, with elite wheelchair races also held for both men and women.
Beyond the top racers, many others ran for charity, including a person dressed as Daddy Pig and four-time Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel. In total, 59,830 runners crossed the 26.2-mile finish line, setting a new world record for the number of finishers.
Guinness World Records recognized 19 runners for their amazing achievements, including those who wore some very fun costumes!
For example, Iain Grigor set a new record for the fastest marathon run dressed as a train, finishing in 4:43.46 while dressed as Thomas the Tank Engine. Matt Bachelor ran the fastest marathon dressed as a 3D toy in 4:19.23, Reef Rounding ran as a Polaroid camera in 3:36.50, and Simon Fannon knitted a 5.59-meter scarf to wear while running his marathon in 5:48.08.
There were also inspiring stories of strength, like Megan Sullivan breaking the fastest marathon record for someone with a unilateral hip replacement (4:44.33), Chelsea Grogan running the fastest marathon by a woman with multiple sclerosis (2:59.32), and Matthew Akpan setting the fastest marathon time for an athlete with an intellectual impairment (3:19.16).
Here’s a quick look at some of the world records from the 2026 London Marathon:
– Longest scarf knitted while running – Simon Fannon (5.59 metres, 5:48.08)
– Fastest marathon dressed in football kit (female) – Harriet Lucero (4:52.17)
– Fastest marathon with unilateral hip replacement (female) – Megan Sullivan (4:44.33)
– Fastest marathon dressed as a train (male) – Iain Grigor (4:43.46)
– Fastest marathon dressed as a 3D toy (male) – Matt Bachelor (4:19.23)
– Fastest marathon dressed in traditional Nepalese dress (female) – Tejmaya Regmi Sigdel (3:37.50)
– Fastest marathon dressed as a camera – Reef Rounding (3:36.50)
– Fastest marathon dressed as a microphone (male) – Daniel Hudson (3:35.51)
– Fastest marathon dressed as a swimmer (female) – Sharon Jones (3:35.17)
– Fastest marathon dressed as an emoji (male) – Stuart Hayes (3:31.39)
– Fastest marathon in a netball kit – Dale Palmer (3:28.51)
– Fastest marathon wearing a suit and dress shoes (male) – Boudewijn Dominicus (3:21.42)
– Fastest marathon (male, ii1 category) – Matthew Akpan (3:19.16)
– Fastest marathon with multiple sclerosis (female) – Chelsea Grogan (2:59.32)
– Fastest marathon dressed as an academic – Alexander Betts (2:55.26)
– Fastest marathon dressed as a supervillain – Ben Green (2:48.15)
– Fastest marathon wearing clogs (male) – Harley Smith (2:47.42)
– Fastest marathon dressed as a cheerleader (male) – George Carley (2:46.48)
– Fastest marathon dressed as a book character – Archie Hunt (2:27.41)
– Fastest marathon (female, women-only race) – Tigst Assefa (2:15.41)
– Fastest marathon (male) – Sabastian Sawe (1:59.30)
It was an unforgettable marathon day, full of impressive accomplishments and lots of fun!