NAIROBI, Kenya — World marathon record holder Sebastian Sawe has withdrawn from the 2026 BMW Berlin Marathon after suffering an injury that has ruled him out of the September race.
Sawe confirmed his withdrawal in a statement, saying the injury had forced him to abandon his plans to compete in the German capital.
The Kenyan marathoner had been targeting a return to Berlin after winning last year’s edition. He had hoped to deliver another strong performance on the famously fast course and once again finish at the Brandenburg Gate.
However, Sawe has not disclosed the nature or severity of the injury and has not indicated how long he expects to remain out of competition.
His withdrawal will be a major blow to the highly anticipated 2026 Berlin Marathon, where he was expected to be among the leading contenders.
The 2026 BMW Berlin Marathon is scheduled for September 27, 2026, with approximately 55,000 runners expected to take part.
Sawe’s focus will now shift to his recovery as he looks to return to competitive action after overcoming the injury.
