Sebastian Sawe’s coach, Claudio Berardelli, believes the world is yet to see the best from the freshly-minted world record holder in the marathon from Kenya.
On April 26, Sawe made history by becoming the first man to run the full marathon in under two hours in official race conditions when he won the 2026 London Marathon in one hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport soon after Sawe arrived in Nairobi from London where he set a new world record of 1:5:30, Barardelli said the world is yet to see the best from Sawe, adding that the athlete will treat the world to more jaw-dropping performances.
“Sabastian is like the lava still rumbling inside the mountain. What the world saw in London was just a spit of smoke. Sabastian is also discovering himself and slowly knowing what he is capable of doing in training. We are also learning,” said Berardelli.
Asked how soon Sawe could further lower the world record, Berardelli said: “We shall see very interesting things from him quite soon. He will do that again, but there is no hurry or pressure. A sub -1:59 is possible, but not lower than that anytime soon.”
OItalian coach Berardelli runs athletics management club 2 Running Club at Kapsabet in Nandi County. 2 Running Club boasts top Kenyan marathoners and middle distance runners, among them 2024 Olympics marathon bronze medallist Benson Kipruto who is also 2023 Boston Marathon champion, 2022 London Marathon champion Amos Kipruto, 2022 and 2023 Boston Marathon champion Evans Chebet, and 2024 Olympic Games 800 metres champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi who is also the world champion over the distance.
Kenya's Sabastian Sawe celebrates with a shoe after winning the men's elite race at the London Marathon in a new world record time of 01:59:30 on April 26, 2026.
Photo credit: Reuters
Barardelli started coaching Sawe in 2017. At the time, Sawe was a 1,500m runner. He transformed the 31-year-old from a track athlete into a fearsome marathoner.
The reigning world half marathon champion also won 2024 Valencia Marathon in 2:02:05 on December 1, 2024 for his maiden win over the distance.
He also won the 2025 Berlin Marathon, the second 42km race of his career, in 2:02:16. The 31-year-old also triumphed in the 2025 London Marathon in 2:02:27.
Strength and conditioning
Berardelli also revealed the behind-the-scenes secrets that yielded the world record for Sawe. He said intense physical training coupled with focus on running at high speeds for long spells over long distances, and proper strength and conditioning, yielded the world record for Sawe in London Marathon. In training, the athlete would cover more than 200 kilometres in a week, he said.
“In terms of training, we went a step higher from the previous season. We took into consideration crucial lessons from 2025 Berlin Marathon, and made adjustments to his training programme,” said Berardelli. The aim was to improve Sawe’s durability, especially the second half of the marathon.
“Good strength and conditioning programme is responsible for his improved durability and ability to sustain a high pace for long,” Berardelli explained. “It’s important for his body to be stronger and supple.”
Kenyan marathoner Sebastian Sawe (centre) is received by Sports Cabinet Secretary (left) and his fans at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on April 29, 2026 after breaking the men's marathon world record at the 2026 London Marathon.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
Berardelli also said Sawe went through intense strength and conditioning, as well as physiotherapy sessions for up to four times a week. The physiotherapy sessions became less intense with time, and were reduced to between three and two sessions a week in January and February.
“We reduced the intensity of the sessions because his back and calf had been giving him problems,” said Berardelli, adding that Sawe’s physiotherapist, Shadrack Kochong put in many hours to bring the athlete’s body to good shape with the help of Vincenzo Lancini from Italy.
In the final six weeks leading to London Marathon, Sawe’s macrocycle - a trainee’s long-term training approach to achieving bigger goals - became intense. He embarked on intense running sessions, and covered between 200km and 241km every week in training. However, his training programme was not cast on stone.
Berardelli noted that results of Sawe’s good preparations manifested in London where he covered the first half of the race in 60 minutes and 30 seconds, a perfect execution of their game plan.
“Sabastian was amazing in the second half of the race, in which he ran 59:01. Nothing can really describe this… it is simply unbelievable,” said Berardelli.
Although Berardelli expected a world record, he was shocked by Sawe’s sub-two-hour time. He says that will take time to sink in
“He was in good shape, better than when he ran the Berlin Marathon last year. I knew he was going to push and run fast, which was the strategy with Andrea Kiptoo, one of the pacemakers from our camp,” said Berardelli.
