Sabastian Sawe will miss this year’s Berlin Marathon after an injury forced the world record holder to abandon his bid to retain the title he won last year.
The Kenyan athlete confirmed that he would not compete in the September 27 race, saying the injury had interrupted preparations for an event he had been eagerly anticipating.
“It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you I am forced to withdraw from the BMW Berlin Marathon due to an injury,” Sawe said.
Sawe had been expected to return to the German capital in search of another strong performance after a historic season that saw him become the first athlete to officially complete a marathon in less than two hours.
The setback has now brought those plans to a halt, with the athlete yet to disclose what injury he suffered or provide details on his recovery.
His withdrawal means fans will not see him attempt to defend the Berlin crown he secured last year.
Sawe said he had been particularly excited about racing through the city and reaching the famous Brandenburg Gate at the end of the course.
“I had been looking forward to achieving something special on the streets of Berlin and crossing the finish line at the Brandenburg Gate,” Sawe said.
The world record holder also expressed his appreciation to those who have continued to stand behind him as he deals with the setback.
“I want to thank everyone who continues to support me, and I wish all the runners taking part a great race.”
Sawe’s decision is a major setback for a race that had been expected to showcase his return following his record-breaking performance earlier this year.
His achievement in becoming the first runner to officially break the two-hour mark came after his remarkable performance in London in April, when he clocked 1:59:30.
The Berlin Marathon is set for Sunday, September 27, with runners beginning and ending their journey close to the Brandenburg Gate.
Organisers expect about 55,000 athletes to take part in the main marathon, which is one of the major events lined up for the race weekend.
The elite field had also been expected to include women’s world record holder Tigst Assefa, adding further interest to the competition.
Activities around the marathon will begin with the Marathon Expo on September 24 and 25, followed by the Generali 5K and other events before the main race.
The marathon is scheduled to start at 7 am on Sunday.
Kenyan interest will remain high, with Rosemary Wanjiru among the leading athletes expected to compete.
The 31-year-old will enter the race as the defending women's champion and has the fastest personal best among the women on the start list, having run 2:16:14.
With Sawe now ruled out, Wanjiru will be among the Kenyan athletes carrying the country's hopes in Berlin as competitors prepare for the September showdown.