Tigst Assefa misses marathon world record due to muscle injury
Top favorite Tigst Assefa was on course for a record before muscular problems arose a few kilometers before the finish.
Quick Look
The Ethiopian top favorite Tigst Assefa had to give up shortly before the finish due to muscular problems while trying to attack the marathon world record.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Tigst Assefa set a record in 2023 and competed at the Brandenburg Gate as the top favorite.
She was the top favorite to win and was chasing a world record from the first meter - and she was on the verge of taking it in impressive fashion. Then the drama began.
The 29-year-old Ethiopian Tigst Assefa was clearly on course for a record, but a few kilometers before the finish a muscle suddenly tightened. Her face contorted in pain, her walking style became uneven, and she limped slightly. Assefa fought and fought, dragging herself meter by meter - in the hope of being able to make it to the finish line in record time. But with every step the hope dwindled; the applause from the crowd tried to sustain them, but it wasn't enough.
Assefa had already triumphed here in 2022 and 2023 and set a global record three years ago with a time of 2:11:53 hours. Before (and after) today's starting signal near the Brandenburg Gate, the world record was 2:09:56 hours, set by Ruth Chepngetich almost two years ago in Chicago. The Kenyan is currently banned because of a positive doping test, but her world record still stands - and it remains that way.
Open Questions
- How serious is Tigst Assefa's muscle injury exactly?
