Sabastian Sawe shrugs off technical doping talk after ‘super shoes’ propel him to marathon world record New marathon world record holder Sabastian Sawe brushed aside suggestions his Adidas “super shoes” amounted to “mechanical doping” on Monday as he basked in the glow of becoming the first man to break the two-hour barrier in an official race.
The 31-year-old Kenyan shattered one of athletics’ most elusive barriers in storming to victory at the London Marathon in one hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds.
Running in Adidas’ 97 gramme Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, he also obliterated the world record of 2:00.35, set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in 2023.
“The shoe is very nice, very light, comfortable, and so supportive, and it’s pushing forward,” he said. “And the big difference is it’s so light and very comfortable.”
Sawe’s run was the most dramatic marker yet of a technological arms race that has transformed distance running over the past decade but he was unmoved when asked if criticism around the shoes annoyed him.
“Absolutely no, because the shoe was approved,” he said. “And I think there were no doubt about it. So, I have no doubt about it.”
The women’s race offered its own striking parallel as Tigst Assefa broke her own women’s-only world record (without male pacemakers) to retain her London title—doing so in the same Adidas model worn by Sawe.
“For the future, I would love to get the all-time world record for women’s marathon,” Assefa said.
“And in terms of the shoes, I’ll speak to my coach and I’ll speak to my shoe company and hope that they can continue to give me the shoes that are going to allow me to run fast.”
Assefa clocked 2:15.41 on Sunday.
Fellow Kenyan Ruth Chepng’etich set the world record in a mixed race when she became the first woman to break both the 2:11:00 and 2:10:00 barriers, clocking 2:09.56 in Chicago in 2024.
Although she was banned three years for doping in October 2025, her achievements pre-dating her March 2025 sample stand, leaving fans confused about what they should be believing in.
NATURAL CEILING
The two-hour men’s marathon was once treated as a natural physiological ceiling, with athletes moving towards it in small increments. This century, records had fallen by seconds until the past nine years when they have plummeted by minutes.
The turning-point came with the arrival of Nike’s high-stack shoes built around ultra-responsive foams and stiff carbon elements designed to improve running economy.
Independent studies showed gains in running economy of 2 to 4 per cent—trivial on paper, but monumental over 42.195 kilometres, where seconds usually decide medals and minutes are the difference between eras, and the latest generation of shoes have made those 2016 models obsolete.
World Athletics tried to regulate the revolution in 2020, capping sole thickness and limiting plates rather than banning the technology outright. The aim was compromise: allow innovation, but stop shoes becoming mechanical aids, and rival shoe companies immediately hurried to get their own versions to the market.
Sunday’s race suggested that compromise has still left the sport in a very different place.
Almost lost amid Sawe’s historic win was the fact that Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha became distance running’s “second man on the moon” as he finished second in 1:59:41 on his marathon debut.
A barrier that only a few years ago many believed would never fall was beaten twice in the space of 11 seconds.
Defenders of the super-shoe era point out that innovation has always shaped athletics as cinder tracks were replaced by synthetic surfaces and lighter, responsive racing spikes helped modern athletes rip past some long-standing records.
Critics counter that shoes now operate too close to the body’s mechanics, storing and returning energy in ways previous generations never had access to and say historical context has gone and the ability to compare performances across generations has been wiped out.
On a spring morning in London, the goalposts moved further than almost anybody thought possible, undoubtedly carried forward by legs, lungs, talent, training and belief, but also by foam, carbon and design.
Published on Apr 27, 2026
#Sabastian #Sawe #shrugs #technical #doping #talk #super #shoes #propel #marathon #world #record
New marathon world record holder Sabastian Sawe brushed aside suggestions his Adidas “super shoes” amounted to “mechanical doping” on Monday as he basked in the glow of becoming the first man to break the two-hour barrier in an official race.
The 31-year-old Kenyan shattered one of athletics’ most elusive barriers in storming to victory at the London Marathon in one hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds.
Running in Adidas’ 97 gramme Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, he also obliterated the world record of 2:00.35, set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in 2023.
“The shoe is very nice, very light, comfortable, and so supportive, and it’s pushing forward,” he said. “And the big difference is it’s so light and very comfortable.”
Sawe’s run was the most dramatic marker yet of a technological arms race that has transformed distance running over the past decade but he was unmoved when asked if criticism around the shoes annoyed him.
“Absolutely no, because the shoe was approved,” he said. “And I think there were no doubt about it. So, I have no doubt about it.”
The women’s race offered its own striking parallel as Tigst Assefa broke her own women’s-only world record (without male pacemakers) to retain her London title—doing so in the same Adidas model worn by Sawe.
“For the future, I would love to get the all-time world record for women’s marathon,” Assefa said.
“And in terms of the shoes, I’ll speak to my coach and I’ll speak to my shoe company and hope that they can continue to give me the shoes that are going to allow me to run fast.”
Assefa clocked 2:15.41 on Sunday.
Fellow Kenyan Ruth Chepng’etich set the world record in a mixed race when she became the first woman to break both the 2:11:00 and 2:10:00 barriers, clocking 2:09.56 in Chicago in 2024.
Although she was banned three years for doping in October 2025, her achievements pre-dating her March 2025 sample stand, leaving fans confused about what they should be believing in.
NATURAL CEILING
The two-hour men’s marathon was once treated as a natural physiological ceiling, with athletes moving towards it in small increments. This century, records had fallen by seconds until the past nine years when they have plummeted by minutes.
The turning-point came with the arrival of Nike’s high-stack shoes built around ultra-responsive foams and stiff carbon elements designed to improve running economy.
Independent studies showed gains in running economy of 2 to 4 per cent—trivial on paper, but monumental over 42.195 kilometres, where seconds usually decide medals and minutes are the difference between eras, and the latest generation of shoes have made those 2016 models obsolete.
World Athletics tried to regulate the revolution in 2020, capping sole thickness and limiting plates rather than banning the technology outright. The aim was compromise: allow innovation, but stop shoes becoming mechanical aids, and rival shoe companies immediately hurried to get their own versions to the market.
Sunday’s race suggested that compromise has still left the sport in a very different place.
Almost lost amid Sawe’s historic win was the fact that Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha became distance running’s “second man on the moon” as he finished second in 1:59:41 on his marathon debut.
A barrier that only a few years ago many believed would never fall was beaten twice in the space of 11 seconds.
Defenders of the super-shoe era point out that innovation has always shaped athletics as cinder tracks were replaced by synthetic surfaces and lighter, responsive racing spikes helped modern athletes rip past some long-standing records.
Critics counter that shoes now operate too close to the body’s mechanics, storing and returning energy in ways previous generations never had access to and say historical context has gone and the ability to compare performances across generations has been wiped out.
On a spring morning in London, the goalposts moved further than almost anybody thought possible, undoubtedly carried forward by legs, lungs, talent, training and belief, but also by foam, carbon and design.
Published on Apr 27, 2026
![MLB trade deadline: Latest rumors on Tarik Skubal, Hunter Greene, and more If you believe Jeff Passan, today is the day we will start seeing trades ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline, which arrives Monday.So let’s spin around the rumors again.The latest on Tarik SkubalWednesday afternoon, Tarik Skubal exited the Detroit Tigers’ game against the Baltimore Orioles in the top of the seventh, having given up a two-run single. He left to a standing ovation from the Detroit faithful, who were wondering like the rest of us whether it was his last outing for the Tigers. He exited having handed the Detroit bullpen a 7-1 lead with two outs and a pair of runners aboard.What happened after that is, according to one MLB executive, the final “sign” that the Tigers need to move their ace at the deadline.Baltimore scored four more runs in the inning, and went on to win 10-9 in extras. Despite recording his 1,000th strikeout in the performance, Skubal received a no-decision for his efforts.“If there was ever a sign that the Tigers should trade Skubal, that was it. The offers should start flowing in any minute,” said one NL executive to MLB insider Mark Feinsand.Feinsand was not the only one reporting that a deal would be happening. ESPN’s Jeff Passan declared Skubal “will be traded” in his MLB Trade Deadline preview as well.So what teams could be making a move for the ace? As we outlined yesterday the Milwaukee Brewers are among the suitors, and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reported that the Chicago Cubs are expected to make a run at the left-hander. But according to Passan, when it comes to potential suitors they are “all almost resigned to the idea that the Los Angeles Dodgers are going to get Tarik Skubal.”A potential reason for that? The lingering health issues for Shohei Ohtani. With the superstar dealing with left knee and right bicep issues, it has put his time on the bump on hold. His last start came on July 3, and manager Dave Roberts indicated earlier this week that his throwing program is on hold. “Trying to mitigate that, we stopped the throwing, stopped the bullpens — hopefully, No. 1, take care of the knee and then not have him try to create velocity with the arm that’s not 100%,” Roberts said.With Ohtani on the shelf — as a pitcher — that could mean a big push for Skubal from the Dodgers.If you’re looking for a sleeper team in the Skubal sweepstakes, keep an eye on Tampa Bay. The Rays saw left-hander Shane McClanahan leave his start on Thursday with “back tightness,” and while it is not considered a “long-term” issue, there is an opening for Tampa Bay. As one MLB source told MLB.com, “[t]he Brewers, Rays and Dodgers have the most high-end prospects to move. It would be somewhat surprising if he didn’t wind up with one of those three teams.”Hunter Greene on the marketWhile Skubal will command the headlines, another top arm could be on the move.According to MLB.com, there is a “50-50” chance that the Cincinnati Reds move flame-thrower Hunter Greene ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline. Greene missed the first half of the season following surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow, as he put off the surgery last season and threw through the discomfort, option for an injection rather than surgery.He ultimately went under the knife in the spring, costing him the start to 2026. Since returning he has gone 2-2 with a 7.06 ERA in four starts this season.But this is a former All-Star, who is under club control for the next few seasons. He signed a six-year extension with Cincinnati in 2023, and is controlled through 2028. Greene is owed $15 million in 2027, $16 million in 2028, and has a $21 million club option for 2029, and his contract comes with a $2 million buyout.His health is probably the biggest concern, as he has missed time beyond the recent surgery. Tommy John surgery in 2018 cost him the entire 2019 Minor League campaign, and he has lost time due to shoulder and lower-body issues.“Health,” said one MLB executive to MLB.com about the concern. “He falls into the high quality and moderate-to-low quantity category.”Still, during his 2024 All-Star campaign, he went 9-5 with a 2.75 ERA, earning Cy Young votes. Teams that miss on Skubal could be enticed to bet on that talent — at that low cost — for the next few years.Our friends at Battery Power are taking about Greene as well:Trade Deadline Discussion ThreadWe had a lot of good conversation yesterday. Perhaps we put all of our trade deadline chatter and thoughts here and get this post pinned through the deadline Monday. Today I want to talk about someone that I don’t think we have discussed which is Hunter Greene. His name has been out there the last few days and while I’m still not convinced that the Reds will move him, I’m curious to what you guys think. I’m in the camp of being reluctant to part with the prospects it would take to get Tarik Skubal, who would essentially be a 2 month + postseason rental. Greene on the other hand is 27 and is signed through 2028 with an option for 2029. Would you be willing to give up the prospects for Greene? Let me know below and lets use this to discuss other potential deals that we might see over the next three days. Rec 1CommentsThin Stroke Comment Icon BubbleReplyRead 53 repliesYankees calling on catchersAs we noted yesterday, the New York Yankees are one of several teams looking for help behind the plate at the MLB Trade Deadline.According to longtime MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Yankees have inquired with the Baltimore Orioles about Adley Rutschman, but from the outside looking in it would seem unlikely that Mike Elias would move the catcher within the division:However, Passan reported on his podcast earlier this week that the Orioles are at least “open” to moving players such as Rutschman. Open is one thing, but making a deal … and one to the Yankees … is another.Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman is another option generating buzz, given last year’s slash line of .278/.323/.520, but the fact that he has three arbitration years coming up before he becomes a free agent in 2030 has pushed the asking price up.Could Mason Miller be moved?With the Los Angeles Dodgers running away with things in the NL West, the San Diego Padres sit in third place, 14 games back in the division.But at one game over .500, the Padres are just two games out in the NL Wild Card chase, so moving a key player ahead of hte deadline does not seem likely.Until you remember general manager A.J. Preller is involvedAfter swinging last year’s biggest move, the deal with the Athletics for closer Mason Miller, could Preller really turn around and trade him at the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline? According to Passan it is at least possible, but Preller has been telling teams that no prospect can be listed as off limits in such a deal.With the New York Mets mired at the bottom of the NL standings, they are expected to move some players ahead of the deadline.One of them could be right-hander Clay Holmes.Holmes has not pitched in the majors since mid-May, when he suffered a broken right fibula, but was 4-4 in his nine starts with a 2.39 ERA and WHIP of 1.101. He pitched four scoreless innings for Low-A St. Lucia earlier this week, a game that was attended by scouts from several teams including the Yankees, White Sox, Phillies, Rays, Rangers, Dodgers, according to The Athletic.He is set to hit free agency at the end of the season, but is still expected to have a “strong” market. One AL executive told FanSided that “[i]t would be a surprise if he didn’t [get traded].” #MLB #trade #deadline #Latest #rumors #Tarik #Skubal #Hunter #Greene](https://i1.wp.com/cdn.vox-cdn.com/profile_images/7002597/Braveshat..jpg?ssl=1 "MLB trade deadline: Latest rumors on Tarik Skubal, Hunter Greene, and more If you believe Jeff Passan, today is the day we will start seeing trades ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline, which arrives Monday.So let’s spin around the rumors again.The latest on Tarik SkubalWednesday afternoon, Tarik Skubal exited the Detroit Tigers’ game against the Baltimore Orioles in the top of the seventh, having given up a two-run single. He left to a standing ovation from the Detroit faithful, who were wondering like the rest of us whether it was his last outing for the Tigers. He exited having handed the Detroit bullpen a 7-1 lead with two outs and a pair of runners aboard.What happened after that is, according to one MLB executive, the final “sign” that the Tigers need to move their ace at the deadline.Baltimore scored four more runs in the inning, and went on to win 10-9 in extras. Despite recording his 1,000th strikeout in the performance, Skubal received a no-decision for his efforts.“If there was ever a sign that the Tigers should trade Skubal, that was it. The offers should start flowing in any minute,” said one NL executive to MLB insider Mark Feinsand.Feinsand was not the only one reporting that a deal would be happening. ESPN’s Jeff Passan declared Skubal “will be traded” in his MLB Trade Deadline preview as well.So what teams could be making a move for the ace? As we outlined yesterday the Milwaukee Brewers are among the suitors, and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reported that the Chicago Cubs are expected to make a run at the left-hander. But according to Passan, when it comes to potential suitors they are “all almost resigned to the idea that the Los Angeles Dodgers are going to get Tarik Skubal.”A potential reason for that? The lingering health issues for Shohei Ohtani. With the superstar dealing with left knee and right bicep issues, it has put his time on the bump on hold. His last start came on July 3, and manager Dave Roberts indicated earlier this week that his throwing program is on hold. “Trying to mitigate that, we stopped the throwing, stopped the bullpens — hopefully, No. 1, take care of the knee and then not have him try to create velocity with the arm that’s not 100%,” Roberts said.With Ohtani on the shelf — as a pitcher — that could mean a big push for Skubal from the Dodgers.If you’re looking for a sleeper team in the Skubal sweepstakes, keep an eye on Tampa Bay. The Rays saw left-hander Shane McClanahan leave his start on Thursday with “back tightness,” and while it is not considered a “long-term” issue, there is an opening for Tampa Bay. As one MLB source told MLB.com, “[t]he Brewers, Rays and Dodgers have the most high-end prospects to move. It would be somewhat surprising if he didn’t wind up with one of those three teams.”Hunter Greene on the marketWhile Skubal will command the headlines, another top arm could be on the move.According to MLB.com, there is a “50-50” chance that the Cincinnati Reds move flame-thrower Hunter Greene ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline. Greene missed the first half of the season following surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow, as he put off the surgery last season and threw through the discomfort, option for an injection rather than surgery.He ultimately went under the knife in the spring, costing him the start to 2026. Since returning he has gone 2-2 with a 7.06 ERA in four starts this season.But this is a former All-Star, who is under club control for the next few seasons. He signed a six-year extension with Cincinnati in 2023, and is controlled through 2028. Greene is owed $15 million in 2027, $16 million in 2028, and has a $21 million club option for 2029, and his contract comes with a $2 million buyout.His health is probably the biggest concern, as he has missed time beyond the recent surgery. Tommy John surgery in 2018 cost him the entire 2019 Minor League campaign, and he has lost time due to shoulder and lower-body issues.“Health,” said one MLB executive to MLB.com about the concern. “He falls into the high quality and moderate-to-low quantity category.”Still, during his 2024 All-Star campaign, he went 9-5 with a 2.75 ERA, earning Cy Young votes. Teams that miss on Skubal could be enticed to bet on that talent — at that low cost — for the next few years.Our friends at Battery Power are taking about Greene as well:Trade Deadline Discussion ThreadWe had a lot of good conversation yesterday. Perhaps we put all of our trade deadline chatter and thoughts here and get this post pinned through the deadline Monday. Today I want to talk about someone that I don’t think we have discussed which is Hunter Greene. His name has been out there the last few days and while I’m still not convinced that the Reds will move him, I’m curious to what you guys think. I’m in the camp of being reluctant to part with the prospects it would take to get Tarik Skubal, who would essentially be a 2 month + postseason rental. Greene on the other hand is 27 and is signed through 2028 with an option for 2029. Would you be willing to give up the prospects for Greene? Let me know below and lets use this to discuss other potential deals that we might see over the next three days. Rec 1CommentsThin Stroke Comment Icon BubbleReplyRead 53 repliesYankees calling on catchersAs we noted yesterday, the New York Yankees are one of several teams looking for help behind the plate at the MLB Trade Deadline.According to longtime MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Yankees have inquired with the Baltimore Orioles about Adley Rutschman, but from the outside looking in it would seem unlikely that Mike Elias would move the catcher within the division:However, Passan reported on his podcast earlier this week that the Orioles are at least “open” to moving players such as Rutschman. Open is one thing, but making a deal … and one to the Yankees … is another.Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman is another option generating buzz, given last year’s slash line of .278/.323/.520, but the fact that he has three arbitration years coming up before he becomes a free agent in 2030 has pushed the asking price up.Could Mason Miller be moved?With the Los Angeles Dodgers running away with things in the NL West, the San Diego Padres sit in third place, 14 games back in the division.But at one game over .500, the Padres are just two games out in the NL Wild Card chase, so moving a key player ahead of hte deadline does not seem likely.Until you remember general manager A.J. Preller is involvedAfter swinging last year’s biggest move, the deal with the Athletics for closer Mason Miller, could Preller really turn around and trade him at the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline? According to Passan it is at least possible, but Preller has been telling teams that no prospect can be listed as off limits in such a deal.With the New York Mets mired at the bottom of the NL standings, they are expected to move some players ahead of the deadline.One of them could be right-hander Clay Holmes.Holmes has not pitched in the majors since mid-May, when he suffered a broken right fibula, but was 4-4 in his nine starts with a 2.39 ERA and WHIP of 1.101. He pitched four scoreless innings for Low-A St. Lucia earlier this week, a game that was attended by scouts from several teams including the Yankees, White Sox, Phillies, Rays, Rangers, Dodgers, according to The Athletic.He is set to hit free agency at the end of the season, but is still expected to have a “strong” market. One AL executive told FanSided that “[i]t would be a surprise if he didn’t [get traded].” #MLB #trade #deadline #Latest #rumors #Tarik #Skubal #Hunter #Greene")
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