Tigist Assefa’s extraordinary world marathon record of 2:11:53, set at the Berlin Marathon last year, has been officially ratified by World Athletics.
This remarkable achievement saw the Ethiopian star smash the previous mark by more than two minutes, becoming the first woman to break the 2:13 and 2:12 barriers in the process.
On 24 September, Assefa delivered a performance for the ages at the BMW Berlin Marathon, obliterating the former world record of 2:14:04 set by Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei in Chicago on 13 October 2019.
Assefa’s stunning run began with a large pack of leading contenders moving together through the early stages, passing the 5km mark in 15:58 with 13 women still in contact as they reached 10km in 31:45.
By the 15km mark, reached in 47:26, Assefa and her compatriot Workenesh Edesa had managed to open up a slight gap. Less than two kilometers later, Assefa was alone at the front and continued to push the pace, reaching the halfway point in a blistering 1:06:20, comfortably inside world record pace.
Assefa maintained her composure and relaxed form, covering the 25-35km section in an astonishing 31:02. With the world record within her grasp, she picked up the pace in the closing kilometers, ultimately crossing the finish line in a historic 2:11:53.
“I hope that my performance will be motivation for young women athletes in Ethiopia and that the world record one year before the Olympic Games gives our country a boost for Paris,” said Assefa.
Assefa’s achievement not only redefines the limits of women’s marathon running but also serves as an inspiration for future generations of athletes. With the record now ratified, her name is firmly etched in the annals of marathon history.
Photo: World Athletics
