Ethiopia's Tigist Assefa astounds the world, shattering the women's marathon record by over two minutes in Berlin, confessing, "I didn't expect."
Ethiopia, known for its rich athletic heritage, celebrated another momentous victory on the international stage as Tigist Assefa, a rising star from the country, shattered the women's marathon world record by more than two minutes at the Berlin Marathon.
Assefa's remarkable achievement, accomplished in just 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 53 seconds, eclipsed the previous record of 2:14:04 set by Kenya's Brigid Kosgei at the Chicago Marathon in 2019.
12:53 - 24.09.2023
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Tigist Assefa displayed her prowess in the streets of Berlin to win the race in a time of 2:11:52.
The Berlin Marathon witnessed an awe-inspiring display of endurance and speed as Assefa, the reigning champion from the previous year, crossed the finish line.
Overwhelmed by the gravity of her accomplishment, she sank to her knees and raised her arms triumphantly, draped in the flag of Ethiopia.
Her dominance in the race was nothing short of spectacular, with a commanding lead of nearly six minutes over the closest competitor.
Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya secured the second spot with a time of 2:17:49, while Tanzania's Magdalena Shauri clinched the third position in 2:18:41.
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In the wake of her historic win, Assefa shared her thoughts on her astonishing performance.
"I didn't expect to run this fast, that is to say, to break 2:12, but it is the result of hard work. As for being now a favorite for the Olympic Marathon next year, it is up to the National Committee to select me for the team,” she said.
Assefa's journey to becoming a marathon world record holder is nothing short of inspiring. Formerly specializing in shorter track events, she ventured into road running in recent years and found unparalleled success.
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Her marathon debut in Riyadh in March 2022 marked the beginning of her ascent to greatness, and she swiftly followed it with a historic victory in Berlin last year, setting a course record with a time of 2:15:37.
The Berlin Marathon's allure for world-record attempts is well-documented, owing to its flat terrain and favorable climate conditions.
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Over the past two decades, it has witnessed several men's records tumble, but Assefa's achievement stands out as a monumental breakthrough.
She becomes the first woman to break the women's world record in the German capital since 2001.