Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa Returns to Berlin Marathon to Reclaim Record-Breaking Heights

Addis Ababa, September 25, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa returns to the BMW Berlin Marathon on Sunday, three years after producing one of the defining performances of her career on the same fast course, with the world record once again within her sights.

Assefa stormed to 2:11:53 in Berlin in 2023, breaking the women’s marathon world record at the time and establishing herself among the sport’s elite. She returns to the German capital this weekend seeking to go beyond the current world record of 2:09:56, set by Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich.

The Ethiopian arrives in Berlin as the current women-only marathon world-record holder, having won the 2026 London Marathon in 2:15:41 in April, improving the 2:15:50 mark she had set in London in 2025.

“I am really looking forward to running on the fast course in Berlin again and hope that I can continue my success story here on Sunday,” Assefa said. “I am very well prepared and want to run a personal best.”

Berlin has already played a defining role in Assefa’s marathon career. She won the race in 2022 in 2:15:37 before returning a year later to deliver her record-breaking performance. Victory on Sunday would give her a third Berlin title while providing another opportunity to test the limits of the women’s marathon.

Assefa faces a strong international field, including Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru and fellow Ethiopians Dera Dida, Zeineba Yimer, Misgane Alemayehu and Bekelech Gudeta. Seven women in the field have personal bests below 2:20, while 14 have run under 2:22.

With Berlin renowned for its fast, record-friendly course, Assefa’s return carries both familiarity and ambition: the same race where she once reset the world benchmark now offers her another chance to challenge the limits of marathon performance.