From the quiet hills of Joginder Nagar in Himachal Pradesh emerged Sawan Barwal, a runner shaped not by tracks but by life itself.
Running was woven into his childhood – across rugged paths, through thin mountain air – building endurance without stopwatches or crowds. Those quiet miles forged the moment Indian athletics had waited decades for.
At the Rotterdam Marathon 2026, Barwal clocked 2:11:58 on his debut in the long-distance running event, breaking a 48-year-old national record set by Shivnath Singh back in 1978.
Speaking to Olympics.com from the sidelines as a guest at the TCS World 10K Beyond The Finish Line event, Barwal reflected on his journey, his record-breaking run and the road that still lies ahead – one that, much like the hills he grew up on, promises to test him, shape him and perhaps, take him even further.
Here are the excerpts:
Q. Breaking a 48-year-old record on your marathon debut – what was going through your mind?
Sawan Barwal: When I crossed the finish line at the Rotterdam Marathon, I honestly wasn’t thinking about the record at all. The race had taken everything out of me, especially in the final stretch, so my only focus was to finish. It was only after a few moments that I realised I had broken Shivnath Singh’s record. That’s when it really hit me – this was something that had stood for 48 years. It felt special, not just personally but for Indian athletics as a whole.
Q. The final stretch looked extremely tough. What was happening in those moments?
Sawan Barwal: The last couple of kilometres were the toughest part of the race. The cold and wind made it very difficult, especially after I poured water on myself to stay cool. My body started reacting badly, and I did feel dizzy and lost balance a couple of times. But at that point, it becomes more of a mental battle than a physical one. I just kept telling myself that I had come too far to stop. Finishing the race became the only goal, and that mindset helped me push through.
Q. From 1500m to the marathon – you’ve raced across several distances in your career. How difficult is it to transition between them?
Sawan Barwal: It’s not easy at all. The 1500m and even 5000m require speed and explosive strength, while the marathon is all about patience, rhythm, and endurance. The biggest challenge is changing your mindset – you go from thinking in minutes to thinking in hours. Physically, too, the training is very different. Building endurance while maintaining some level of speed is the toughest balance to achieve, and that’s something I’ve worked on over the years.
Q. When did you decide to move to the marathon? Was the record in your mind?
Sawan Barwal: The decision came gradually. After competing in track events and longer road races, I felt my strength was more suited to endurance. Over time, with guidance from coaches and my performances in longer distances, the marathon became a natural progression. The record wasn’t really on my mind when I made that decision. The focus was more on performing well and improving step by step.
Q. Will you now focus on the marathon heading towards LA 2028?
Sawan Barwal: Yes, the marathon will definitely be a major focus going forward, especially with the LA 2028 Olympics in mind. Having started with a good performance, I want to build consistency in this event. At the same time, I’ll continue working on all aspects of my fitness so that I can compete at the highest level when it matters most.
Q. What are your short, mid and long-term goals?
Sawan Barwal: In the short term, I want to recover well and improve my timing further. In the mid term, my focus is on performing strongly at major events like the Asian Games and other international races. Long term, the goal is to represent India at the Olympics and aim for a strong finish there. This record is just a starting point – I know there’s a lot more to achieve.
Q. Why do you think the previous marathon national record stood for so long?
Sawan Barwal: I think there are many reasons. Earlier, marathon running in India didn’t have the same level of exposure, scientific training, or international competition opportunities that we have now. The record by Shivnath Singh was ahead of its time, and it set a very high benchmark. Today, with better facilities, coaching, and exposure, athletes are able to push those limits further. I’m happy that I could finally break it, and hopefully, it motivates more runners to go even faster in the future.
READ MORE: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/sawan-barwal-india-marathon-record-break-la-2028-olympics-exclusive
