London Marathon winner reveals what they’ll buy first after huge bonus for breaking record
London marathon winner and world record breaker Sabastian Sawe has shared what he plans to buy first after earning a big prize with bonuses.
On Sunday, Sawe made history by becoming the first person to run a marathon (26.2 miles) in under two hours during a competitive race.
This was only the Kenyan runner’s fifth marathon, but he finished with an amazing time of 1:59:30. The previous world record was 2:00:35 set by the late Kelvin Kiptum, and Sawe was just 10 seconds faster than Eliud Kipchoge’s unofficial record from 2019.
The 31-year-old won the London marathon for the second year in a row, but this time he earned much more thanks to breaking the record.
Including all bonuses for winning the race, setting a new London course record, the world record, and finishing well under 2:02:00, Sawe is estimated to have earned £263,000.
The Sun reports that with extra sponsorship deals, he could make up to $1 million. As an Adidas athlete, he broke the record wearing their £450 Adios Pro Evo 3 shoes.
Sawe’s first thoughts after winning this life-changing prize were about his family back in Kenya. He plans to build them a house and buy a car so they don’t have to walk anymore.
He is also helping to build a church and paying for future flights abroad for people he cares about.
His father, Simion, told the BBC (through a translator), “He promised he would build us a house and buy a car so we won’t be walking anymore. He also promised to finish building the church and help us fly abroad.”
Sawe’s family watched his incredible race from home, and his mother, Emily, said she “jumped around the house” and was “so happy.”
The whole family is excited to celebrate when he returns to Kenya as a world record holder.
Sawe, who was a pacemaker at the 2022 Seville half-marathon, also thanked the London crowds for cheering him on.
“First of all, I want to thank the crowds,” Sawe told Gabby Logan in a BBC interview. “They helped a lot. You feel so happy and strong, pushing yourself. What I achieved today isn’t just for me, but for everyone in London.”