Sawe to earn over Sh45m after historic sub two hour London Marathon win

Kenyan long-distance runner Sabastian Sawe is set to pocket over Sh45 million following his historic sub-two-hour victory at the 2026 London Marathon.

Sawe stunned the athletics world after clocking 1:59:30 to become the first athlete to run a marathon under two hours in a record-eligible race, securing both victory and a new world record.

For winning the elite men’s race, Sawe takes home about Sh7.1 million, equivalent to the standard $55,000 winner’s prize set by organisers.

However, the bulk of his earnings comes from performance-based bonuses tied to time and records, according to multiple sources.

By breaking the two-hour barrier, Sawe qualifies for the top time bonus of Sh19.4 million ($150,000),  awarded to athletes who run under 2:02:00.

In addition, he earns Sh3 million ($25,000)  for breaking the London course record and a further Sh16.2 million ($125,000) for setting a new world record, according to the London Marathon bonus structure. 

Combined, these core incentives alone push his direct race-related earnings to approximately Sh45 million, excluding appearance fees and other undisclosed payments.

Earlier unverified reports had intimated that his total income from the race, including bonuses and contractual rewards, could exceed Sh130 million ($1 million).

These extras are anticipated to be additional rewards tied to his Adidas sponsorship.

The athlete competed in the brand’s Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 shoes, which have been widely credited with contributing to the record-breaking performance.

While Adidas has not publicly disclosed a specific bonus figure tied to the sub-two-hour feat, elite endorsement contracts often include performance clauses, with Sawe expected to earn significant extra payouts tied to the world record and global exposure generated by the run.

The achievement has already boosted Adidas’ visibility, with the brand’s cutting-edge racing shoe taking centre stage in what is being described as a defining moment in marathon history.

Aside from resetting the limits of endurance running, Sawe’s landmark run now places him among the highest-earning marathoners in a single race.