Jacob Kiplimo: I don’t fear Sabastian Sawe and a sub 1:58 marathon is now possible

Jacob Kiplimo is still laughing at the absurdity of what was achieved last Sunday in the TCS London Marathon 2026. The Ugandan, who finished third, in a new personal best (2:00:28), which beat the late Kelvin Kiptum’s previous world record by seven seconds, chuckles when he learns that fellow competitor and runner-up Yomif Kejelcha is the only marathoner in history to never complete the distance in two hours or more.

Kejelcha was edged out by Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe, whose immortal achievement of breaking two hours (1:59:30) for the first time in race conditions came as both men reimagined the possibilities in the sport on a historic day in the capital.

Kiplimo, conscious of the furious rate at which the men’s marathon world record books have been revised, speaks to the Independent with great excitement about the sport’s future. After 18 years, Eliud Kipchoge slashed 4:03 off the original mark at the turn of the century, but now in just four years another 2:09 has come off the mark, owing to shoe technology and strides made in the volume of carbohydrates consumed mid-race.

“I think maybe now it’s possible to run under 1:58,” Kiplimo, a member of Samsung’s Team Galaxy, remarks. “In some years, for me, it’s just a matter of time, but I think also right now, I’m not thinking just about the world record, because I was just saying that if people are now running 1:59, I think the next goal, if you want to break that record, you need to run 1:58. We never know in the future, but yes, for me it’s just a matter of time.”

Kiplimo, now running between 210-220km per week in Uganda in preparation for marathons, has the world record for the half marathon (57:20), though he went 38 seconds faster a year earlier in Barcelona, though that was not ratified due to the close proximity of the lead race car.

Despite progress in technology and the science of fuelling, London 2026 was the perfect storm, with Kiplimo identifying the weather, with temperatures at just 11C at the start of elite races, and, crucially, his strong competition.

“I was happy to cross the finish line, because in the last 100m, I saw that I’m still under the previous world record, so I tried to push it. I think at halfway, or around 12 mile, I saw that things are changing and realized that maybe we’re on world record pace.

“But when I split 35km, I thought, these guys are running too fast. And it was amazing for me. I knew because I passed through 40km in 1:54. And for them, they must have passed around 1:53. So I knew that the world record and sub-two was ahead.

“It’s about the weather, firstly, and second, it was good to have the competitors. When you have four or five together, they can help you to push the limits.

“Always, I have said that I don’t fear anyone. When we meet to race, you never know, but I love competing with the strong guys.”

Kiplimo’s lofty vision for the sport might not seem as audacious at first reading, given his unratified time in Barcelona (56:40) equates to 1:58:55 in the marathon, according to the various online race calculator predictions, including the popular VDOT. Though World Athletics’ points table puts Sawe’s world record on a par with a 56:07 half marathon, or even a 3:39.02 mile – Josh Kerr is bidding to break Hicham El Guerrouj’s 27-year world record (3:43.13) in London in July.

For now, a rest, and a longer stretch without the pressure and expectations of training, with Kiplimo swearing by a three-week down period following a marathon, a notably relaxed approach compared to many of the ‘runfluencers’ seen on social media.

For now, Kiplimo will watch his beloved Arsenal, as they battle for Champions League and Premier League honours. And, crucially, some quiet time farming, the 25-year-old enjoys growing maize and sweet potato especially, while cooking Ugandan dish posho with beans in a stew.

“I think for me, it’s just to get more medals, especially in the Marathon Majors, but overall in the Olympics,” Kiplimo concludes, with his ambition to outduel Kenya and Ethiopia on the world stage.

“I’m proud to be Ugandan, of course, to put that flag high. In the last, I think, like five years, six years, we have been lifting that flag and Uganda is coming, growing and growing. There are a few athletes, but right now, we have more, if you see me and Joshua [Cheptegei], we still have more to come.”

Jacob Kiplimo is a world record holder and member of Samsung’s Team Galaxy, who trains with the Samsung Galaxy Watch8.