LONDON — Kenya's Sabastian Sawe crossed the London Marathon finish line on April 26 with a historic time of 1:59:30 — the first sub-two-hour marathon ever recorded in an official race. An Adidas attendant immediately collected his shoes, marked the time on the side, and sent them to the company's archives in Herzogenaurach, Germany.
That moment made the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 the fastest shoe in the world. “Marathon racing is, in our industry, a bit like F1 in the automotive industry,” said Marc Makowski, Adidas SVP of innovation. “It’s become that battleground where, as a brand, if you want to showcase your performance credibility, that's where you do it.”
Historic Trio of Records
Sawe wasn’t alone. Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha finished just behind at 1:59:41, and fellow Ethiopian Tigist Assefa set a women's world record of 2:15:41. All three athletes are official Adidas partners and wore the Evo 3.
Two men broke the two-hour barrier in the same race — an unprecedented feat. The Evo 3, weighing just 97 grams (lighter than a bar of soap), is the lightest and fastest race shoe Adidas has ever produced.
Immediate Frenzy and Future Plans
Adidas unveiled the Evo 3 on April 23. A limited launch of 200 pairs sold out in under two minutes, and pairs are already reselling online for up to $4,000. The company plans several more limited drops in the coming months, followed by a broader commercial version around the Berlin Marathon in September.
“We've been developing ultra-light running shoes for more than three years,” Makowski explained. “Our goal is to work with elite athletes to find out what it really takes to produce the fastest running shoe.” The key insight: embrace a literal “less is more” approach in every detail.
Background: Three Years of Supershoe Development
Adidas has been refining the Adizero Adios Pro line for over three years. Engineers focused on minute design elements — similar to Formula 1 racing — where even small tweaks can have a tide-turning impact on performance. The Evo 3 is the result of that obsession.
The shoe now sits atop a fiercely competitive market. Rivals include Nike’s Alphafly 3 (worn by previous record holder Kelvin Kiptum), On’s LightSpray technology, and Asics’ Metaspeed Edge. For now, Adidas leads the pack.
What This Means: The Supershoe Race Heats Up
Sawe’s record proves Adidas is at the cutting edge of marathon innovation. The Evo 3 is changing the game for every other athletic company. But the industry’s supershoe war is far from over — brands are already racing to shave more grams and milliseconds.
“Marathon racing is like F1 — you have to be the fastest to prove you’re the best,” Makowski said. The commercial impact will unfold in the coming months, but for now, the Evo 3 is the undisputed king of the road.