Kenya turned out in full force to celebrate a new marathon king as Sebastian Sawe received a thunderous hero’s welcome on arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. His plane was greeted with a ceremonial water salute, setting the tone for a day of national celebration as fans and officials gathered to honour his historic achievement.

Sawe’s defining moment came at the London Marathon, where he stunned the athletics world with a record-shattering 1:59:30, rewriting the marathon record books. The performance saw him eclipse the previous mark set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023, cementing his place in global sporting history.

From the airport, the celebrations moved to State House Nairobi, where a red-carpet reception awaited the champion. The atmosphere was electric as the Kenyan and East African anthems rang out, before Sawe, draped in the national flag, handed it over in a symbolic moment of honour.

President William Ruto led the national recognition ceremony, presenting Sawe with Ksh 8 million in rewards for his record-breaking feat. The package included Ksh 5 million for breaking the world record and Ksh 3 million for winning gold under the national athlete reward policy. He also unveiled a customized number plate bearing Sawe’s record time “1:59:30,” alongside a promise for a car of his choice.

In his address, President Ruto praised the achievement in powerful terms, saying:
“This is not just a sporting victory, it is a moment that has redefined human endurance. What Sebastian has done will be remembered for generations.”

He added:
“When history is written about breaking barriers in sport, his name will stand alongside the greatest moments we have ever seen.”

Taking the podium, Sawe expressed deep gratitude for the recognition, dedicating his victory to the country. He said:
“Thank you, Your Excellency, for this honour. I ran in London on behalf of Kenya. I wanted to make my country proud, and I will continue working hard to ensure our flag continues to shine across the world.”

The ceremony was attended by senior government officials, sports administrators, Athletics Kenya representatives, and Sawe’s family, all sharing in a moment that blended pride, emotion, and national unity.