Male and Female Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year award winners Sabastian Sawe and Maria Perez pose with their awards during the 2025 World Athletics Awards in Monaco on November 30, 2025
Reigning London and Berlin Marathon champion, Sabastian Sawe of Kenya, will switch to marathon running full-time as he seeks to add his name to distance running folklore.
Sawe, who won the 2025 Male Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year title in World Athletics gala night held in Monaco on Sunday, has been competing in half-marathon and full marathon races.
However, he now wishes to distinguish himself as a full-time marathoner as he seeks to set the bar higher next year.
Sawe, who made a triumphant debut in the World Marathon Majors (WMM) series in 2025 by winning the London and Berlin Marathon titles, has categorically stated that he will only run marathon races in 2026.
Asked on Monday whether he will defend his world half-marathon title next year, Sawe, 29 said: “I will go into marathon running on a full-time basis next year.”
Sawe claimed the Male Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year award ahead of world marathon champion Alphonse Simbu from Tanzania. The late Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya won it in 2023.
Sawe, who ran his third marathon race in 2025, became the only other athlete in history after Eliud Kipchoge to win the London and Berlin marathon titles. Kipchoge won both the London and Berlin Marathon in 2015, and in 2018.
Sawe affirmed the dominance by Kenyans in the London Marathon by winning for the fourth year running, winning in 2:02:27 on April 27, 2025, following in the footsteps of Amos Kiptuto (2022), Kelvin Kiptum (2023) and Alexander Mutiso (2024).
His winning time of 2:02:27 is the second fastest time in the British capital after Kiptum’s course record victory of 2:01:25 from 2023.
Kenya's Sabastian Sawe celebrates on the podium with a trophy after winning the men's elite race at the London Marathon on April 27, 2025.
In 2024, Sawe destroyed the field in Berlin, winning in 2:02:16 on September 21, 2024.
With the New York Marathon marking the end of the 2025 World Marathon Majors on November 2, Sawe was crowned the series champion with 50 points. He pocketed Sh65 million for his victory.
“Winning two of the most prestigious races in the WMM series on my debut season, and then winning the Male Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year Award, makes me feel appreciated,” said Sawe, who also thanked his fans across the world for voting for him.
Sawe, who is coached by Italian Claudio Berardelli said that it will take good health, a good training programme, hard work and a favourable training place to return a better performance in 2026.
“Hard work and patience are key to success, not shortcuts,” said Sawe.
Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa (left) and Kenya's Sabastian Sawe celebrate on the podium with a trophy after winning the men's and women's elite races at the London Marathon on April 27, 2025.
Sawe noted that the hilly terrain and serene atmosphere in Kapsabet, Nandi County, provide him with good training ground. He paid glowing tribute to his coach, and training mates for pushing him to rise to greater heights.
His training mates are Olympic and world 800m champion, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, New York City Marathon champion Benson Kipruto, Chicago Marathon silver medallist Amos Kipruto, and world under-20 1,500m record holder Phanuel Koech.
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