This Thursday the TCS London Marathon organisers announced that the two top performers in the world in 2025 will meet in London on April 26, 2025 for a highly anticipated showdown.
Last April Kenyan Sebastian Sawe edged out Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo to take the London title. That autumn the two produced even more remarkable performances: Sawe won in Berlin in 2:02:16; just three weeks later Kiplimo answered back in Chicago with 2:02:23.
On April 26 the two “twin stars” will meet again. The elite field is lavish, featuring Paris Olympic champion Tamirat Tola, and Ethiopian stars Yomif Kejelcha and Hagos Gebrhiwet, both making their marathon debuts.
“Given the very high level of the field, to win again you have to produce an exceptionally high standard,” Sawe admitted in an interview. “Perhaps you have to go all out, like the great Kelvin Kiptum did when he set the course record in 2023, to challenge the limits.”
Kiptum tragically died in a car accident in 2024; he still holds the London course record of 2:01:25 (the third-fastest time ever). Currently Sawe’s personal best (PB) is 2:02:05 from the 2024 Valencia Marathon, while Kiplimo follows closely with a PB of 2:02:23 set when he won Chicago last year.
Here are three preview takeaways for this race.
1. Sawe vs. Kiplimo: second showdown, clash of titans
Last year’s London race was a turning point for both athletes. Sawe’s victory firmly established him among the world’s top marathoners; runner-up Kiplimo proved in his debut that his exceptional half marathon and trail running abilities can transfer seamlessly to the ultimate 42.195 km challenge.
The 2026 rematch is even more anticipated because both have evolved since then. Sawe’s 2:02:16 in Berlin, run in hot conditions (above 21°C), is his most dominant performance to date.
Meanwhile Kiplimo showed enormous upside in Chicago, running the first 30 km at world record pace. Although he slowed over the final 12.2 km, he still massively improved his PB to 2:02:23, moving up to seventh on the all-time list.
2. Ethiopian duo making their debuts: a cross-over challenge from the king of the track
The London Marathon has welcomed a half marathon world record holder making his marathon debut two years in a row: last year it was Kiplimo; this year it’s Yomif Kejelcha.
Kejelcha is arguably the biggest X-factor on the marathon stage. He has an astonishing range of speed, having set world records for the indoor mile (3:47.01) and the half marathon (57:30).
Kejelcha’s half marathon résumé is compelling. He has won the Valencia Half Marathon three times, producing remarkable times such as 57:30 and 57:41.