As Kenyan marathon runner Sabastian Sawe shattered the two-hour barrier at the 2026 London Marathon on Sunday, Barnaba Korir, Youth Development Director at Athletics Kenya, hailed his historic achievement as a landmark moment for the nation and resounding proof that no human is limited.
Taking up the ultimate marathon challenge that had long eluded even the legendary runner Eliud Kipchoge, who famously finished the world's first sub-two-hour marathon distance under specially designed, non-race conditions with support, Sawe became the first person to break the two-hour mark in a sanctioned marathon, clocking 1:59:30 at this year's London Marathon.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Korir, a former athlete now devoted to sports development in Kenya, called the day "a historic moment" for his country.
"This is really a historic moment for Athletics Kenya. Sebastian Sawe breaking the two-hour barrier for the first time on a scale that we were looking for with Kipchoge. We are very excited about this performance and Athletics Kenya and Kenya as a whole is proud of what he has done today in London," he said.
Beyond the race itself, Sawe's feat has once again demonstrated to the world that the human spirit yields to no limits, he added.
"This was a big surprise we did not expect. I watched the race and at first I thought maybe they were not going to make it, but eventually he did. As Eliud Kipchoge said before, that no human is limited. Yes, it has been done, and we believe that actually when you give all the support that is necessary, the work that they have done, yes, no human is limited, and Kenya has shown that it can be done," he said.
Sawe's sub-2 hour marathon record proves no human is limited: Kenyan official
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday said "excessive demands" from the United States have led to the collapse of peace negotiations in Pakistan.
Araghchi made the remarks after arriving in Russia's St. Petersburg for a scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Iranian foreign minister is currently on the final leg of his regional tour. He began his trip to Islamabad, Pakistan on Friday, and arrived in Muscat, Oman on Saturday. After holding talks with senior Omani officials on Sunday, he returned to Islamabad for a second visit within around 24 hours.
Araghchi said that his visits to Pakistan went well, as the two sides conducted good consultations, reviewed the situation and discussed the conditions under which negotiations between Iran and the U.S. could continue.
"Pakistan has played an important mediating role in the negotiations between Iran and the United States, and it was necessary to review the latest developments. In any case, there have been developments in the negotiation process, but the approaches adopted by the U.S. have led to the failure of the previous round of the talks despite some progress. The U.S. excessive demands and incorrect approaches are the main reasons of the failure. So it is necessary for Iran to consult with our friend Pakistan to review the latest situation. This visit is productive," said Araghchi. Araghchi said the discussions he had with Omani officials earlier in Muscat included ways to ensure safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, adding that the two countries have agreed to continue consultations at the expert level.
"Iran and Oman are two coastal states along the Strait of Hormuz. It is natural for us to consult with each other in this regard," said the Iranian foreign minister.
During his stay in Russia, Araghchi will meet with President Putin and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
Iran's FM slams US for failed Pakistan talks
