World marathon record holder Sabastian Sawe on Thursday visited William Ruto at State House, Nairobi in a ceremony marking his record-breaking performance in London. On arrival, Sawe was received by a police officer who handed him the national flag before he walked along a red carpet to the entrance, where President Ruto welcomed him. The two shared a warm embrace and exchanged brief pleasantries in recognition of the achievement.
During the meeting, Sawe presented the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 shoes he wore when he set the record on April 26 in London, clocking 1:59:30 and becoming the first man to run a competitive marathon under two hours. President Ruto praised the performance as a landmark moment for Kenyan athletics and global sport, reaffirming government support for elite athletes. He later awarded Sawe Sh8 million in recognition of the feat. The visit highlighted Kenya’s continued dominance in long-distance running and the growing emphasis on supporting sports excellence at the highest level.
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[PHOTOS] State House moment: Ruto celebrates Sawe’s world record performance
During the meeting, Sawe presented the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 shoes he wore when he set the record on April 26 in London, clocking 1:59:30 and becoming the first man to run a competitive marathon under two hours.
President William Ruto and marathoner Sabastian Sawe pose for a photo at State House, Nairobi on April 30, 2026. PHOTO/PCS