Defending London Marathon champion Sabastian Sawe is poised for a thrilling return to the iconic event on 26 April 2026, with the Kenyan athlete openly speculating that shattering the course record might be essential to secure back-to-back victories.
Sawe Leads a Phenomenally Talented Contingent
The 29-year-old Sawe, who triumphed in the 2025 race, headlines an exceptionally deep and competitive men's field. This stellar assembly notably features Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo, the runner-up from last year. Kiplimo's impressive credentials include three consecutive World Cross Country titles, the half-marathon world record, and a commanding victory at the October 2025 Chicago Marathon.
"The TCS London Marathon course is one of the most beautiful and fastest in the world," Sawe reflected. "It was my first time running in London last year and it was one of the proudest moments of my life. I am sure with the quality of athletes coming to London it will take another fast time to win again, perhaps the type of effort the great Kelvin Kiptum put in when he set the course record in 2023."
Chasing History and Honouring a Legacy
The late Kelvin Kiptum's formidable course record, established in 2023, stands at two hours, one minute, and 25 seconds. Kiptum, along with his coach, tragically lost their lives in a traffic accident in February 2024. Sawe's own winning time from 2025, an exceptional 2:02:27, remains the second-fastest performance ever recorded on the London Marathon route, setting the stage for a potential historic showdown.
An Unprecedented Depth of Talent
The elite men's roster extends far beyond the top contenders, boasting a remarkable collection of global athletics stars:
- Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda, the 2024 Olympic 10,000-metre champion and current world record-holder in both the 5,000m and 10,000m events.
- Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola, the reigning Olympic marathon champion.
- Fellow Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha, making his highly anticipated marathon debut following a distinguished track career that earned him 10,000m silver at the previous year's world championships.
This incredible lineup is further strengthened by the presence of Germany's Amanal Petros, the marathon silver medallist at the 2025 World Championships who missed gold by a mere 0.03 seconds. He will lead the European challenge alongside Britain's own Emile Cairess.
Complete Elite Fields Confirmed
The announcement on Thursday finalises all elite categories for the 2026 event. In the men's wheelchair race, Switzerland's Marcel Hug headlines as he aims to equal the all-time record of eight London Marathon victories, a feat currently held by British legend David Weir.
This follows Wednesday's revelation of an equally formidable women's field, which features defending champion Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia, world champion Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya, and Olympic champion Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands. The stage is set for a spectacular display of endurance and speed across all competitions.
