Ethiopia's Assefa Tigst smashes world record in Berlin Marathon

Ethiopia's marathoner Assefa Tigst has smashed the world record after winning the women's race in the Berlin Marathon at 2:11:52.

Assefa broke Kenya's Brigid Kosgei record of 2:14:04 which she achieved on October 13, 2019, at the Chicago Marathon.

Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui came in second.

At the same time, Kenyan marathoner Eliud Kipchoge won the Berlin Marathon after clocking 2:02:42 on Sunday, September 24, 2023.

Kipchoge became the first Marathoner to win the Berlin Marathon five times ahead of Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie who had won the Marathon four times.

Another Kenyan Vincent Kipkemboi came in second after clocking 2:03:13. Ethiopia's Tadese Takele came in third clocking 2:03:24. The two are Berlin Marathon debutants.

He is the current holder of the marathon world record, which he had set with a finish time of 2:01:09.

Ahead of the race, Kipchoge stated that his main goal is to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals and that he believes running in Berlin is the best way to prepare for this.

“Berlin for me is like home. Looking at the Olympic Games in Paris next year, I considered which races would be the best preparation for me and Berlin was the best option.”,” said two-time Olympic champion Kipchoge.

Of the 19 competitive marathons he has raced, Kipchoge has only lost on three occasions – on his Berlin Marathon debut in 2013, in London in 2020, and in Boston in April 2023.

Congratulations Eliud Kipchoge.