BERLIN : Defending champion Sabastian Sawe has withdrawn from next month’s Berlin Marathon because of an injury, organisers said on Thursday.
The 31-year-old Kenyan had been due to return to the German capital after a landmark performance at the London Marathon in April, where he became the first man to run a competitive marathon in under two hours, winning in 1:59:30.
Sawe won the 2025 Berlin Marathon in 2:02:16, setting the world’s fastest marathon time of the year despite temperatures reaching 25 degrees Celsius.
“It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you I am forced to withdraw from the Berlin Marathon due to an injury,” Sawe said in a statement, without specifying the nature of the injury.
“I had been looking forward to achieving something special on the streets of Berlin and crossing the finish line at the Brandenburg Gate.
“I want to thank everyone who continues to support me and I wish all the runners taking part a great race.”
The women’s field for the Sept. 27 race remains strong and includes Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa, who took nine seconds off her own women’s-only world record at the London Marathon.
