Marathon world record holder Sabastian Sawe withdraws from Berlin Marathon

World record holder Sabastian Sawe has withdrawn from the 2026 Berlin Marathon because of an injury, ending hopes of a marquee performance at the event.

An undisclosed injury has forced Sebastian Sawe to withdraw from this month’s Berlin Marathon.

Sabastian Sawe became the first person to break two hours in a record-eligible marathon when he won London on April 26.

Men's marathon world record holder Sabastian Sawe will not be able to defend his title at the Berlin Marathon next month after being forced to pull out. "It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that I am forced to withdraw from the Berlin marathon due to injury," the 31-year-old Kenyan wrote on Instagram.

Sawe had been due to defend his title in Germany in September

Marathon world record holder Sabastian Sawe says he is injured and will miss the Berlin Marathon, which was set to mark his return to competition after smashing the two-hour barrier. Sawe said he had been targeting “something special” next month in Berlin. “It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you I am forced to withdraw from the BMW Berlin Marathon due to an injury," Sawe said in a statement issued by organizers.