Sabastian Sawe of Kenya made history at the London Marathon on Sunday, crossing the finish line on the Mall in 1 hour 59 minutes and 30 seconds. His astonishing effort shattered the two-hour marathon barrier, a record long considered beyond human capability. BBC commentator Steve Cram exclaimed, "They said it couldn't be done!" Just 11 seconds later, Yomif Kejelcha also broke the previous world record, despite never having run a marathon before. Even Jacob Kiplimo, who finished third, came close, missing the sub-two mark by 28 seconds. The men's two-hour marathon in race conditions has been comprehensively achieved, prompting a search for new challenges.
World-Firsts Still Up for Grabs
Happily, humans are not yet all-powerful, and several records and firsts remain unachieved. Here are a few to inspire your next sponsored challenge.
The First Pacific Swim
Some see swimming the Pacific Ocean as an achievable goal. French swimmer Benoît Lecomte attempted it in 2018, starting from Choshi, Japan, with a plan to swim 40 nautical miles (64 km) per day to San Francisco. He rested at night on his support boat but was forced to abandon after 1,500 miles due to irreparable boat damage. Lecomte previously claimed a world first for swimming the Atlantic in 1998, though Guinness World Records does not recognize it due to distance uncertainty. The first circumnavigation of Great Britain has officially been completed; Ross Edgley called it "brutal" when he finished in Margate in 2018.
The 9-Metre Long Jump
American Mike Powell's world record long jump of 8.95 metres, set in 1991, has never been surpassed. He jumped a wind-assisted 8.99 metres the following year at altitude. This 35-year record is not the longest-standing in athletics; Florence Griffith-Joyner's 100m and 200m records from 1988 remain unbeaten, as do the women's 400m and 800m records from 1985 and 1983. Jonathan Edwards's 18.29-metre triple jump, set in 1995, has stood for over 30 years. Edwards believes athletics has "not kept pace with the professionalism of sport."
The 30-Minute Breath Hold
Croatian freediver Vitomir Maričić achieved 29 minutes and 3 seconds in 2025, but the 30-minute mark has never been reached. Croatia is a centre of excellence for the sport; the previous record was held by Budimir Šobat with 24 minutes and 37.36 seconds, longer than an episode of The Simpsons. Šobat did not take up freediving until age 48, noting that his age helped him stay calm. "Of course, you have to be a little bit mad," he added.
The First Ascent of Gangkhar Puensum
At 7,570 metres, Gangkhar Puensum is the 40th highest mountain on Earth and the highest unclimbed peak. Several attempts were made in the 1980s, but in 1994, Bhutan banned climbing peaks over 6,000 metres due to respect for local spiritual beliefs. The mountain's name means "White Peak of the Three Spiritual Brothers," and it will likely remain unconquered.
