Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa was on course to break the women’s marathon world record for 40 kilometres in Berlin, but slowed visibly near the finish before winning in 2:11:04. Her compatriot Guye Adola took the men’s title for a second time in 2:02:51.
Assefa had gone clear almost immediately and reached 40km with the timing system projecting a finish just inside Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich’s 2:09:56 world record. She ultimately missed it by 1:08, but still improved her own Berlin course record and personal best by 49 seconds. Her time is the third fastest women’s marathon in history.
The men’s race remained tightly packed until after 30km, when Adola accelerated away. He beat fellow Ethiopian Gemechu Dida Diriba by 28 seconds, with Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay third.
Sunday’s race began half an hour earlier than last year’s after the heat affected the 2025 edition. This time there was autumn sunshine and little wind, although it was still warm at around 19°C as the race progressed.
Women’s race – Assefa’s record bid unravels
Assefa made her intentions clear from the first timing point. She reached 5km in 15:30, already 25 seconds ahead of defending champion Rosemary Wanjiru (KEN), and stretched that advantage to 1:05 by 10km. Running behind a pacer and alongside some elite men, she repeatedly checked her watch as she pressed on against the clock.
She passed halfway in 1:04:57 and 25km in 1:17:00. A slight incline around that point briefly pushed her projected finish outside world record pace, but she recovered the time on the following descent. At 30km in 1:32:15, the projection was back inside the record, and at 40km in 2:03:00 it still stood at approximately 2:09:44.
The final 2.195km changed the story. Assefa took 8:04 to cover it looked to be limping when she crossed the line in 2:11:04. The reason for her apparent discomfort was not immediately clear, but the late struggle could not obscure the scale of the performance: she had gone faster than the 2:11:53 with which she set the then world record on this course in 2023.
“Agony in victory,” said the World Marathon Majors post about her win. It added: “Tigst Assefa wins the 2026 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON but she was made to suffer in the final stages after an apparent injury derailed her world record attempt.”
The contest for the other podium places was much closer. Bedatu Hirpa (ETH) overtook fellow Ethiopian Dera Dida in the final kilometres to finish second in 2:16:53, just two seconds ahead. Bekelech Gudeta was fourth in 2:18:58 and Alemitu Tariku fifth in 2:19:01, completing an Ethiopian sweep of the first five places.
Men’s race – Adola breaks clear after 30km
The men’s leaders stayed together for much longer. Ten runners were within a second at 5km and nine reached halfway in 1:01:01. Selemon Barega (ETH) was prominent at the front as the pace lifted, but the group still contained Adola, Geay and several other contenders at 30km.
Adola then made the move that settled the race. He covered 30–35km in 14:21, reaching 35km nine seconds ahead of Diriba. The gap grew to 18 seconds at 40km, and Adola held on to win in 2:02:51, adding to his 2021 Berlin victory.
Diriba finished second in 2:03:19, 28 seconds back. Geay, who had briefly lost touch with the leaders, secured third in 2:03:59. Getaneh Molla (ETH) was fourth in 2:04:55, while Barega faded to fifth in 2:04:59 after helping drive the earlier pace.
Berlin Marathon 2026 results
Sunday 27 September, 26.2 miles / 42.2 kilometres
WOMEN:
| Position | Athlete | Nationality | Time | Gap to winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tigst Assefa | ETH | 2:11:04 | — |
| 2 | Bedatu Hirpa | ETH | 2:16:53 | +5:49 |
| 3 | Dera Dida | ETH | 2:16:55 | +5:51 |
| 4 | Bekelech Gudeta | ETH | 2:18:58 | +7:54 |
| 5 | Alemitu Tariku | ETH | 2:19:01 | +7:57 |
| 6 | Pascaline Jelagat | KEN | 2:20:23 | +9:19 |
| 7 | Misgane Alemayehu | ETH | 2:20:27 | +9:23 |
| 8 | Ludwina Chepngetich | KEN | 2:21:25 | +10:21 |
| 9 | Evaline Chirchir | KEN | 2:21:32 | +10:28 |
| 10 | Aminet Ahmed | ETH | 2:21:45 | +10:41 |
MEN:
| Position | Athlete | Nationality | Time | Gap to winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guye Adola | ETH | 2:02:51 | — |
| 2 | Gemechu Dida Diriba | ETH | 2:03:19 | +0:28 |
| 3 | Gabriel Gerald Geay | TAN | 2:03:59 | +1:08 |
| 4 | Getaneh Molla | ETH | 2:04:55 | +2:04 |
| 5 | Selemon Barega | ETH | 2:04:59 | +2:08 |
| 6 | Asefa Boki | ETH | 2:05:33 | +2:42 |
| 7 | Andamlak Belihu | ETH | 2:05:54 | +3:03 |
| 8 | Shura Kitata | ETH | 2:06:04 | +3:13 |
| 9 | Yuhei Urano | JPN | 2:06:09 | +3:18 |
| 10 | Tadu Abate | ETH | 2:07:16 | +4:25 |
