Sabastian Sawe, the first man to complete an official marathon in under two hours, received a hero's welcome upon returning to his home village in Kenya. Hugged, cheered, and adorned with garlands, the record-breaker landed in a Kenyan military plane at Eldoret airport on Thursday.
Emotional Reunion
Lydia Sawe, his wife, waited anxiously on the runway, clutching a bouquet of orange roses. As the plane touched down, she trembled with excitement. When Sawe emerged, he locked eyes with her and rushed into her arms. "Congratulations, darling," she whispered, tears streaming down her face.
Sawe, who shattered the world record by 65 seconds with a time of 1 hour 59 minutes and 30 seconds at the London Marathon, signed a visitor book in the VIP lounge and hugged ecstatic friends and locals. He received a wreath made from the sinendet plant, symbolizing victory in his Kalenjin ethnic group, and was fed fermented milk from a gourd by Lydia.
A Victory for All
"The victory that took place last Sunday was not just my victory, it was a victory for all of us," Sawe said in Kiswahili to the jubilant crowd. "I'm so happy to be home and welcomed this much, I'm so grateful," he added.
This high-altitude region of Kenya, around Eldoret in the Great Rift Valley, is renowned for producing world-class distance runners. The red dirt roads are daily pounded by thousands of hopeful athletes. Training at altitude increases red blood cell production, enhancing endurance at lower altitudes.
Sawe's grandmother, Vivian Kimaru, also had sporting success, competing in the 1972 Olympics in Munich. "I'm so proud," she said of her grandson.
Celebrations Continue
At Sawe's parents' home in Ndonyongaria village, celebrations featured marquees, traditional music, and dancing. Guests enjoyed rice, cabbage, beef stew, and chapati. Sawe's victory was followed by a chaotic welcome at Nairobi's airport and a breakfast at the presidential residence.
President William Ruto, also from Eldoret, called Sawe's achievement "a defining moment in the story of human endurance." He presented Sawe with two cheques totaling 8 million shillings (£46,000) and car number plates showing his record time. Sawe gave the president one of his racing shoes with "1.59.30" written on the sole.
Running as a Path Out of Poverty
In Eldoret, running is a route to wealth. Emmy Biwott, a local school director, said athletes are "our cash crop." Toby Tanser, author and charity founder, noted that "nearly every famous Kenyan runner has come from a village setting."
Lydia Sawe, reflecting on the future, said, "I can't even imagine. It will be so strange. We will be somewhere. I will be someone."
