Elite Men's Press Conference
Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe is unbeaten over the marathon distance.
He returns to London as the defending champion, having won the 2025 TCS London Marathon in a time of 2:02:27. Five months later, he followed up this victory with a win at the 2025 Berlin Marathon in a time of 2:02:16.
“I’m pleased to be here for a second time. All my preparation has been good and I’m here to run well this year.”
On his hopes of breaking the London course record of 2:01:25:
“My hope is to run good; I am ready for this race and we’ll see on Sunday.
“I’ve prepared well this year, and I hope that Sunday will be something different. Maybe it will be a happy moment for me.”
On his first London Marathon win 12 months ago:
“Always a happy feeling, of course, winning and crossing the line, so something good.”
Watch the full press conference with Sabastian Sawe, Jacob Kiplimo, Amanal Petros and Yomif Kejelcha below.
Key quotes
Jacob Kiplimo
Uganda’s Kiplimo made his 26.2-mile debut at the 2025 TCS London Marathon, where he finished in second place (behind Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe) in a time of 2:03:37. He went on to win the 2025 Chicago Marathon, finishing in 2:02:23. In his build-up to the 2026 TCS London Marathon, Kiplimo broke the world record for the half marathon, in Lisbon on 8 March, running 57:20.
“I'm so excited to be here, back for the second time at the London Marathon. I think about last year, when I first ran a marathon, and since then I’ve planned a lot, and spoken to my team-mates a lot.
“About my preparation, I think it’s been going well. I’ve trained hard and I hope to do my best on Sunday.”
On whether he can beat Sawe on Sunday:
“I think we’ll see on Sunday. We are going to battle together, the four guys who are here.”
Amanal Petros
Petros is the German national record holder for both the marathon and half marathon. He came tantalisingly close to winning the 2025 World Championships marathon in Tokyo last year but lost out to Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu in a photo finish. Petros achieved a second-place finish at the 2025 Valencia Marathon on 7 December last year, setting a new German national record of 2:04:03.
“It was a huge and a deep challenge, from the World Championships until the half marathon in Berlin last month. Last year in London was really tough with very, very strong athletes.
“I think I’ve trained to run better than last year; I’ve learned a lot and I’m very excited to be here. The atmosphere was amazing last year, and the weather looks very nice [for Sunday].”
On whether he thinks he’ll break Bashir Abdi’s European record of 2:03:36:
“Yeah, I think, yeah. I mean, the training in Kenya was really tough and a really amazing success, so I hope it’s going to happen. We're going to see together, but I’m also looking forward to having fun with these people and the beautiful atmosphere.”
Yomif Kejelcha
Ethiopia’s Kejelcha is the former world record holder for the half marathon and the 57:30 time he set at the 2024 Valencia Half Marathon is still the second fastest in history. He won silver in the 10,000m at the 2019 and 2025 World Championships and will make his marathon debut at the 2026 TCS London Marathon.
“I finished my track career and decided to try a new experience, so I asked my coach if I could move to the road. I’m happy to come here – it’s my dream marathon in London, so I’m happy to be here. Yes, my training has changed a lot from the track to the marathon.”
