Assefa crossed the finish line first in 2:11:04, the third-fastest women’s time in history and a new course record, but she was clearly struggling in the final kilometres. The 29-year-old had been on world-record pace for much of the race before experiencing severe discomfort late on.
Reports indicate that Assefa sustained an acute injury to her Achilles tendon in the closing stages. She required immediate medical attention after the race and later flew to Munich for further tests to determine the extent of the damage. There are concerns she may have suffered a partial tear that could require surgery.
Despite the injury, Assefa still produced an outstanding performance. She led the race from early on, built a substantial advantage, and held on to win comfortably ahead of fellow Ethiopians Bedatu Hirpa and Dera Dida. The top five finishers were all from Ethiopia.
Assefa, the Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist and 2026 London Marathon winner, had looked set to challenge Ruth Chepngetich’s world record of 2:09:56 before the injury forced her to slow dramatically in the final stages.
The injury is a significant setback for one of the world’s leading marathon runners. Further medical assessments in Munich will determine the severity of the Achilles problem and the expected recovery timeline.
Assefa’s victory in Berlin adds another major title to her already impressive record, but the focus now shifts to her recovery and long-term fitness as she looks ahead to future competitions.