Berlin Marathon: Records, Assefa's Drama & Brazil's Surge
Ethiopian star wins with a torn Achilles, Adola clocks 2:02, and Brazilian delegation sets an event record in Germany.
The Berlin Marathon delivered historic achievements and unforgettable drama. Tigist Assefa captured the women's title in course-record time despite tearing her Achilles tendon near the finish, while Guye Adola topped the men's podium and Brazil fielded nearly 1,900 runners.
The Berlin Marathon delivered another historic edition for long-distance running. Packed with impressive marks, course records, and unusual moments across 42.195 kilometers through the German capital's streets, the race was highlighted by both extreme elite resilience and a massive turnout of Brazilian runners.
Tigist Assefa's resilience at km 40
The women's race delivered one of the most stunning finishes in marathon history. Ethiopia's Tigist Assefa was on pace to break the world record when she sustained a severe injury around kilometer 40. Despite limping through the final two kilometers, Assefa crossed the finish line in first place with a time of 2:11:04.
Her time set a new course record in Berlin and established the third-fastest women's mark in marathon history. Following the race, medical scans confirmed a torn right Achilles tendon, requiring surgery to begin her recovery.
Guye Adola dominates the men's elite field
In the men's field, victory went to Ethiopia's Guye Adola, who crossed the finish line in 2:02:50. With this performance, he beat his own personal best set nine years earlier during his marathon debut over the 42 km distance.
Massive Brazilian contingent and Paulo Paulo's standout run
Brazil's presence in Berlin hit record figures. Out of more than 56,000 registered participants, Brazil fielded the fourth-largest international contingent with 1,888 runners, trailing only Germany, the United States, and Great Britain. That total surpassed Chicago 2024 (which had 1,805 Brazilian runners), previously the country's largest turnout at a World Marathon Major.
Among Brazilian athletes, the standout individual performance belonged to Paulo Paulo. At 47 years old, he was the country's top finisher, completing the race in 2:12:07—a time just three minutes shy of the master's over-45 world record (2:09).
Running 26.2 miles in Crocs and event highlights
Beyond the race for the podium, the event featured several curious moments. Russian runner Iskander Iadagarov completed the marathon in roughly 2:30 while wearing nothing on his feet but a pair of yellow Crocs.
During the pre-race festivities, Berlin's official opening ceremony drew crowds with live performances, including a Robbie Williams impersonator performing hits like Angels, which sparked widespread buzz among athletes gathered in the German capital.