Sports
Berlin Marathon: Bekele Out, Women's Clash in the Spotlight
Despite men's withdrawals, the German race draws over 56,000 runners and eyes historic marks in the women's field.
The Berlin Marathon suffered major setbacks with the withdrawals of Kenenisa Bekele and Sebastian Sawe from the men's field. The spotlight now shifts to a stacked women's race led by Tigist Assefa as over 56,000 runners gather in Germany.
Just days before the start, the Berlin Marathon saw major shakeups in its elite field. Organizers confirmed the withdrawal of Kenenisa Bekele just six days after announcing his return to the German capital. At 44, the Ethiopian legend suffered an injury to his left Achilles tendon during the final stretch of his preparation, dealing a heavy blow to a men's race that was already missing injured world half marathon champion Sebastian Sawe.
A two-time Berlin champion and holder of legendary performances on the course—including his 2019 victory in 2:01:41, just two seconds shy of the world record at the time—Bekele embodied the longevity of marathoners reaching their physical peak around age 37, a trajectory shared with Eliud Kipchoge. Without the two primary favorites, the men's competition in Germany opens up, putting contenders such as Guye Adola, Tadese Takele, Tsegaye Getachew, and Selemon Barega into the spotlight.
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The Evolving Peak Age in the Marathon
The early departure of seasoned veterans puts the spotlight on the generational shift in modern marathoning. Historically considered a distance for mature athletes due to the extreme physical demands and mental fortitude required, the marathon has seen its peak age bracket drop dramatically in recent years. The Kelvin Kiptum phenomenon, who set the world record at age 23, accelerated the direct migration of young runners from the track and half marathons straight to the 26.2-mile distance, further fueled by advances in carbon-plated super shoes.
Women's Field Targets Historic Times
While the men's lineup arrives depleted, the women's race takes center stage in Berlin. Ethiopia's Tigist Assefa, a two-time champion (2022 and 2023) who clocked a stunning 2:11:53 on the German course, headlines a world-class field alongside compatriot Amane Berisso and Kenya's Rosemary Wanjiru.
Berlin's flat, fast layout, which has produced 13 world records over its history, encourages aggressive racing. Because Berlin operates under a mixed-race format with men and women starting simultaneously, expectations point toward blistering early paces to challenge global marks.
Mega Event, Inline Skating, and Broadcast
Beyond the elite division, Berlin mobilizes more than 56,000 runners from over 160 countries. The weekend schedule includes the traditional 5K run passing through the Brandenburg Gate and Saturday's 42 km inline skating marathon, which historically offers a qualification pathway into the following year's running marathon for participants finishing under the cutoff time.
The marathon starts at 8:45 a.m. local time (2:45 a.m. EDT). Fans can follow live race progress via the event's official mobile app, which allows real-time tracking for up to 25 athletes simultaneously.
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