Sawan Barwal Breaks 47-Year-Old National
Record at Rotterdam Marathon 2026
¨ India’s long-distance
runner Sawan Barwal scripted history by breaking the country’s longest-standing
national record at the Rotterdam Marathon 2026.
¨ Battling extreme
conditions and physical exhaustion, the 28-year-old Army havildar overcame a
dramatic collapse near the finish line to clock 2:11:58, surpassing a
47-year-old milestone.
Historic Record-Breaking Performance
¨ Competing at the
prestigious Rotterdam Marathon, Barwal eclipsed Shivnath Singh’s record of
2:12:00 set in 1978. This achievement marked the end of India’s oldest
athletics record.
¨ Notably, Barwal
accomplished this feat in his debut marathon, finishing 20th in a highly
competitive field. The race was won by Ethiopia’s Guye Adola.
Collapse Near Finish Line
¨ Barwal’s final stretch
was marked by intense struggle. In the last two kilometres, strong cold winds
in Rotterdam severely affected him. Having poured water on his head to stay
cool, a common marathon strategy, he was unprepared for the chilling breeze.
¨ This caused his head to
feel “frozen,” leading to two falls just 20 metres before the finish. Despite
momentary blackouts, he managed to get back on his feet with assistance and
complete the race.
