The Kenyan defended his 2025 title, beating debutant Yomif Kejelcha by 11 seconds. The Ethiopian runner-up also crossed the line in an astonishing one hour, 59 minutes and 41 seconds, while Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda finished third in two hours, 28 seconds.

All three were faster than the previous official world record of two hours, 35 seconds set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in 2023, while Sawe’s time was also 10 seconds faster than the unofficial one hour, 59 minutes and 40 seconds set by Eliud Kipchoge in a 2019 exhibition.

“I think I’ve made history today in London, and for the new generation (it shows) to run a record is possible,” said Sawe.

“It depends on the preparation you had and the discipline you had, so for me I think I have shown them that nothing is impossible.

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“Everything is possible with a matter of time.

“I was ready today. I was well-prepared for the London Marathon and for today’s results. I’m so happy because I had a lot of courage to push, even when the pace was fast.

“It’s something not to be forgotten, something to be remembered, and it will remain in my mind forever.”

London Marathon Events CEO Hugh Brasher said: “It is, without doubt, the greatest day in London Marathon history.

“People said that Sir Roger Bannister’s mile was the greatest sporting moment of the 20th century. Is this the greatest sporting moment of the 21st century? I don’t know, but it was just brilliant.”

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Sawe and Kejelcha were both sporting the same footwear, the 97-gram Adidas Pro Evo 3s, which, even before defending his London title, Sawe predicted could be a record-breaking pair.

The 31-year-old has been on a mission to prove his races are clean. Last year, Sawe and his team at Adidas approached the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), volunteering him for a strict regime of extra drug tests – 25 of them, all unannounced –  before he won the Berlin Marathon.

Kejelcha, the newly-crowned fastest debutant in marathon history, felt that commitment was a brilliant way to preserve the integrity of the sport.

“It’s very important for clean sport,” he said. “Maybe I, for the future, will do the same thing. I think it’s a great idea.”

There was also a new standard set in the women’s race, won by Tigst Assefa, who defended her London Marathon crown in a women’s-only world record two hours, 15 minutes and 41 seconds – like Sawe’s, subject to ratification.

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Assefa beat the standard she set when she won last year in London, finding a final kick as Buckingham Palace came into view to beat Kenya’s Hellen Obiri (2:15:53) and Joyciline Jepkosgei (2:15:55).

“Today’s competition was very special because of the way I finished,” said Assefa. “I’ve been working on my speed, and today I showed how fast I could finish, and that’s why today was a very special win for me.

“When I finished the race and found out Sabastian had broken the world record and gone under two hours I was so, so happy for him.

“To break world records requires a lot of work, and I want to congratulate him on his wonderful achievement.”

Kipchoge offered his own congratulations to both Sawe and Kejelcha, hailing a “historical day for marathon running.”

In a post on Instagram, he said: “Breaking the sub-two barrier in the marathon has long been a dream for runners everywhere, and today, you’ve made that dream come true.”