The first man to run a competitive marathon in under two hours landed in Nairobi to a water cannon salute, jubilant crowds, and a presidential cash-and-car reward.

A record, then a reception

Sabastian Sawe touched down in Nairobi to a water cannon salute after becoming the first person to break the two-hour barrier in a competitive marathon race, an achievement he secured at the London Marathon last week.

President William Ruto received Sawe at State House, where he presented the runner with $62,000 and a car. Sawe said he had not expected the scale of the reception.

The record that triggered the welcome

Sawe's London run broke the previous world record of 2:00:35 set by the late Kelvin Kiptum. Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa retained her women's crown at the same event.

Sawe's parents, Emily and Simion Sawe, described their pride publicly, with his mother saying she jumped around the house when the result came in.

What the moment means

The sub-two-hour barrier had long been regarded as the defining frontier of marathon running. Sawe's London finish moved that frontier, drawing comparisons to other once-unthinkable athletic thresholds. East Africa has now produced the athlete who redefined what is considered possible over the classic distance.