We are entering a new era of running, after adidas athletes Sabastian Sawe and Yomif Kejelcha finished the marathon race under the two-hour barrier at the London Marathon. At the same time, Sabastian Sawe and Tigist Assefa made history by becoming the fastest marathon runners of all time, in the men’s and women’s categories. Sawe was the first to break the two-hour barrier and set a new world record, with a time of 1:59:30, while Yomif finished the race in 1:59:41, on his marathon debut. Tigist Assefa also set a new women’s world record in an exclusively female race, with a time of 2:15:41.

Sabastian, originally from Kenya, stated: “Breaking the world record is something I have dreamed of for a long time, and the fact that I achieved it means enormously to me and to athletics. It is the result of the intense work behind the scenes, the support of my team and the role that innovation plays in helping me push the boundaries. I am honoured to be part of a new chapter in running.”

Tigist, originally from Ethiopia, said: “Breaking the world record has been on my mind for many years, and the fact that I finally achieved it is truly special. It shows the work put in day by day, the strength of the team around me and the way everything aligns to achieve more than what I thought was possible. I am grateful to be part of this important moment for sport.”

All three athletes wore the new adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 the fastest and lightest Adizero model ever created, built for world records and sub-two-hour performances.

The adidas innovation team worked closely with Sabastian, Tigist and Yomif to create a range of innovative running products, designed to support this historic moment. These include the Techfit+ Endurance shorts and Climacool+ vest worn by Sabastian and Tigist, as well as the Techfit+ Endurance suit worn by Yomif.

Patrick Nava, General Manager adidas Running, stated: “The adidas family is extremely proud of the historic achievements of Sabastian and Tigist, who recorded the fastest times ever run by humans in a marathon. This success reflects years of hard work and dedication by the athletes, alongside our innovation team, which created a revolutionary super shoe: the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3.”