Tigst Assefa suffers ruptured Achilles tendon after Berlin marathon

The mask of pain foreshadowed a serious injury. The winner of the Berlin marathon, the Ethiopian Tigst Assefa, finished the event on Sunday, September 27, with a total rupture of an Achilles tendon, her manager Gianni Demadonna told AFP. The athlete underwent surgery on Monday in Bavaria.

Ahead of the world record bases until passing the 40th kilometer, Tigst Assefa, aged 29, crossed the finish line in 2h11'49, her personal best and the third best time in the history of the marathon for women. Before winning for the third time in Berlin, she appeared grimacing and even began to limp, race director Mark Midle subsequently indicating that she was suffering from the right Achilles tendon, without further details.

Minimum seven months of absence

“The tendon was completely dead during the last two kilometers,” said Gianni Demadonna. “She started to feel pain after 31 kilometers. And after about forty kilometers, she had more and more pain. Over the last two kilometers, the tendon lost all its fibers (...) and it was completely torn upon arrival (...). She could no longer move.” Already affected by an Achilles tendon ten years ago, Tigst Assefa should be absent for seven months, added her manager, raising the possibility of a return during the London marathon in April 2027.