LONDON, United Kingdom — Defending champion Sebastian Sawe will return to the streets of London on April 26, 2026, as the men’s elite field for the London Marathon shapes up as one of the deepest and most competitive in recent history.
The Kenyan headlines a formidable line-up featuring Olympic champions, world record holders, established marathon greats, and a new generation of athletes set to make high-profile marathon debuts. With such depth, Sawe believes victory may demand something extraordinary.
“The winner may have to rewrite history,” Sawe said, pointing to the course record of 2:01:25 set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in 2023.
Sawe arrives in London with strong momentum. His triumph at the 2025 London Marathon, where he clocked 2:02:27, was built on a blistering second-half split of 60:57 that broke the race open and announced him as one of the sport’s most dominant performers.
He remains unbeaten in three career marathons, having previously won in Valencia and Berlin, a record that underlines both his consistency and tactical maturity.
Despite that form, the 2026 race promises to be far more complex. Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo returns after finishing second in London last year and has since elevated his standing with world cross-country titles, a half-marathon world record and victory at the Chicago Marathon.
His compatriot Joshua Cheptegei, the Olympic 10,000m champion and former world record holder over 5,000m and 10,000m, adds further weight to Uganda’s challenge as he continues to transition to the marathon.
Ethiopia is expected to field a powerful contingent led by Olympic marathon champion Tamirat Tola, who comes into the season after a course-record win in Doha.
He will be joined by Deresa Geleta, one of the fastest marathon runners of all time, alongside highly anticipated debutants Yomif Kejelcha and Hagos Gebriwhet, both decorated track athletes stepping up to the classic distance.
Kenya’s depth will also be evident through Amos Kipruto, the 2022 London Marathon champion, whose experience and finishing speed make him a perennial threat in championship-style races.
Germany’s Amanal Petros enters the race buoyed by recent performances that saw him narrowly miss world championship gold, while Great Britain’s Emile Cairess will spearhead the home challenge, targeting a strong showing against the global elite and an assault on the national record.
Race organisers say the 2026 elite field reflects the growing competitiveness of men’s marathon running, with faster courses, improved preparation, and a new generation of athletes pushing the limits of endurance performance.
As Sawe noted, history may need to be rewritten for the title to stay in his hands.