Kenyan marathoner Sebastian Sawe will not compete in the Berlin Marathon next month due to an injury, forcing him to withdraw from what would have been his title defense. The 31-year-old runner had planned to return to racing in Germany on September 27 following his record-breaking performance earlier this year.
Sawe made history in April when he became the first athlete to complete an official marathon in under two hours, crossing the finish line in London with a time of 1:59:30. Experts had speculated he might achieve an even faster result in Berlin, as the German course is considered among the speediest marathon routes available to elite runners.
In a statement, Sawe expressed his disappointment about missing the opportunity to race at the Brandenburg Gate. “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,” he said, thanking supporters while wishing participants well in the upcoming event.
Without Sawe in the field, Berlin’s women’s competition will take center stage, featuring Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa as a headline attraction. Assefa holds the women’s world record after her dominant performance at the same venue in 2023.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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