SABASTIAN SAWE received presidential approval on his return to Kenya and cheques worth £46,000 – even though officials spelt his name wrong in their welcome-home presentation.
Sawe, 31, won a second successive London Marathon on Sunday in an unprecedented time of one hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds.
Running in a pair of £450 new adidas supershoes, the East African athlete – known in his training camp as the Silent Assassin – became the first man to run 26.2 miles in a competitive marathon under two hours.
It was one of the greatest athletics performances in history and, on Thursday, he returned home where his Kenyan Airways plane was given a water cannon salute.
A BBC reporter said he was greeted at the airport by local officials “in what I have to say were quite chaotic scenes”.
Sawe was given a police escort in a chauffeured-driven car to the State House in Nairobi where he received a hero’s welcome from William Samoei Ruto, the country’s president.
Ruto congratulated the athlete for this “unmatched” feat and was snapped handing him two cheques totalling eight million Kenyan shillings – one from the Minister of Youth Affairs for five million (£29,000) and the other from the Government of Kenya for three million (£17,000).
Saw and Ruto shook hands in front of a framed photo of the moment he crossed the finish line but the picture and cheques said ‘Sebastian’ on it – not his name Sabastian.
In official World Athletics and London Marathon records, he is Sabastian Sawe and they take what is written in his passport.
Sawe was also given two vehicle number plates with the numbers 01 59 30 – his official record time.
In a video posted online, Ruto said: “Our new marathon record holder, Sabastian Sawe.
“Future generations will look back on 26th of April 2026 as the day a man broke a physical and psychological barrier, long thought insurmountable.
“And the name forever attached to that moment will be Sabastian Sawe. Running a marathon under two hours.”
Ruto added: “Sabastian did not only break a record, he expanded the horizon of human potential.
“This young man, our hero, did what many believe could not be done. Sabastian has made the impossible possible.”
Sawe told the crowd: “I am happy about this good day, that you came to celebrate with me, I did not expect it.”
Sawe – who was fuelled last Sunday morning by a breakfast of “two slices of bread with ham and cups of tea” – is believed to earn up to $1million in terms of prize money, contractual bonuses and sponsorship deals.
His parents, who drove six hours for the ceremony, revealed to the BBC he is set to buy them a new car and house following his history-making marathon run.
They also say he will help to restore the local church in the coming months.
Mum Emily said: “I was very happy. I thank God. I jumped around the house. I just didn’t know what to do. I was so happy.”
Dad Simion said: “The truth is he promised us that he is going to build us a house.
“And he said he would buy a car. So we won’t be walking on foot anymore.
“He also promised he would finish building the church here – and that he would help us fly abroad.”
