The running world has been dealt a major blow ahead of the autumn Abbott World Marathon Majors season. World record holder and defending champion Sabastian Sawe has officially withdrawn from the upcoming BMW Berlin Marathon, scheduled for September 27, 2026, due to an undisclosed injury.
SCC Events, the organizers of the prestigious German capital race, announced the withdrawal, noting that Sawe will not be able to defend his title on the famously fast course.
The 31-year-old Kenyan star made history this past April at the TCS London Marathon, shattering the two-hour barrier on a record-eligible course with a staggering time of 1:59:30. Coming off that monumental performance—and having secured victories in Valencia (2024), London (2025), and Berlin (2025)—Sawe’s entry made him the heavy favorite to light up the Brandenburg Gate once more.
In a heartfelt statement released via event organizers and his social media channels, Sawe expressed his disappointment:
“It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that I am forced to withdraw from the Berlin Marathon due to injury. I had been looking forward to achieving something special on the streets of Berlin and crossing the finish line at the Brandenburg Gate. It was also my wish to give something back to the race and its organisers, who have supported me so much.”
While race director Mark Milde and the Berlin team expressed deep regret over the absence of the sport’s biggest active star, the elite fields remain packed with top-tier talent. The men’s division will now look to elite contenders such as Gabriel Geay and Guye Adola to lead the charge.
Meanwhile, all eyes in Berlin will heavily pivot toward the women’s elite race. Ethiopian superstar Tigst Assefa—who famously set the women’s Berlin course record of 2:11:53 in 2023—returns to the German capital with her sights firmly set on challenging the global women’s world record.
For Sawe, the focus now shifts entirely to rehabilitation and recovery, with running fans around the globe eagerly awaiting his return to the starting line.
