Defending champion and world record holder, Sabastian Sawe from Kenya, has withdrawn from the 2026 Berlin Marathon slated for September 27 in Germany due to an injury.

Sawe’s withdrawal throws the men’s competition wide open, with Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay and Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega now among the top athletes left to battle it out for the title. Race organisers are yet to release the full list of competitors.

Sawe announced his withdrawal from the race in a statement on Thursday.

“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. I had been looking forward to achieving something special on the streets of Berlin and crossing the finish line at the Brandenburg Gate. I want to thank everyone who continues to support me and I wish all the runners competing a great race,” Sawe, who holds the world record of one hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds from 2026 London Marathon, said in a statement in his social media pages.

Kenya's Sabastian Sawe celebrates with a shoe after winning the men's elite race and setting a new world record with a time of 01:59:30.

Photo credit: Reuters

Race organizers said they were disappointed to lose their star attraction but wished the athlete well.

“We are very sorry to see Sabastian miss this year's race and wish him a full and speedy recovery. We hope to welcome him back to the streets of Berlin soon,” the organizers said in a statement.

Sawe, 31, was due to return to Berlin as the defending champion, having won the 2025 edition in 2:02:16. Rising temperatures hampered his attempt to break the world record in London, forcing him to slow down in the second part of the race.

Sawe, who trains under the 2Running Athletics Club in Kapsabet Nandi County, was among the elite athletes who ran the 2026 London Marathon on April 26. He broke the world record to become the first man to break the two-hour barrier in the marathon.

While confirming the injury on Thursday, Sawe’s coach, Claudio Berardelli, said the reigning marathon world record holder has suffered a stress fracture in his right tibia (large shinbone located in the front part of the lower leg between the knee and the ankle).

“It was discovered a few days ago, and it is difficult to say how long it will take to heal. We will keep monitoring the situation to make sure he recovers fully. We can’t force things at the moment,” Berardelli told Nation Sport on the phone from Kapsabet in Nandi County, where the athlete has been training.

A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone. It happens when repetitive force or a sudden increase in physical activity overworks the bone, preventing it from repairing itself. These injuries most often occur in the weight-bearing bones of the lower leg and foot.

Organizers still hope to have a thrilling race even without Sawe.

“Even without Sabastian Sawe, we expect an exciting battle for victory and fast times this year, especially in the women’s race! Tigst Assefa’s stated goal is to challenge the marathon world record on Berlin’s fast course, while Esther Pfeiffer targets the German national record. Two extraordinary records could fall,” organisers said in a statement on Thursday.

Kenya's Sabastian Sawe celebrates with a shoe after winning the men's elite race at the London Marathon in a new world record time of 01:59:30 on April 26, 2026.

Photo credit: Reuters

Erick Sang who registered for the race with a personal best of 2:04:30 is the only Kenyan in the men’s race.

Tanzania’s Geay remains the fastest athlete in the field with a personal best of 2:03:00. He faces a strong field of Ethiopian runners who include Getaneh Molla (2:03:34), Guye Adola (2:03:46), Shura Kitata (2:03:59), Dejene Hailu (2:04:15) Selemon Barega (2:05:00), Taresa Tolosa (2:05:17) Tadu Abate (2:05:38) and Asefa Boki (2:05:40).

The women's field is headlined by Ethiopian Tigst Assefa (2:11:53), who broke the world record in Berlin in 2023, and defending champion Rosemary Wanjiru (2:16:14) from Kenya.

Kenya’s Evaline Chirchir (2:20:33), Ethiopians Bedatu Hirpa (2:18:27), Dera Dida (2:18:32), Zeineba Yimer (2:18:47), Bosena Mulatie (2:19:00), Misgane Alemayehu (219:08), Bekelech Gudeta 2:19:39), Gadise Mulu (2:20:59) and Aminet Ahmed (2:21:24) are some of the elite women who will feature in the race.

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