Kenya’s running stars attract suspicion and awe – our research gives a more human picture

Sabastian Sawe broke the two-hour marathon barrier, but the media sensationalised his breakthrough. Leonhard Lenz/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

In April 2026, Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe became the first person to officially run the marathon in under two hours. This milestone was anxiously awaited by the running world.

The discussions that followed touched on several topics. These ranged from the “secrets” of Kenyan running successes, to the new-fangled “super shoes” Sawe and others wore during the race. From curiosity about his running statistics leading to a spoof app account to suspicions of doping that haunt many Kenyan runners.