Assefa breaks Berlin Marathon course record with 2:11:04 despite late Achilles injury

Tigst Assefa won the 2026 BMW Berlin Marathon in 2:11:04 on Sunday, breaking her own course record despite an Achilles injury that disrupted her world record attempt in the closing kilometres.

The Ethiopian had been on pace to challenge the 2:09:56 world record for much of the race. Running behind her pacers and well clear of her rivals, she reached 10km in 30:48, halfway in 1:04:57 and 30km in 1:32:19. With 5km remaining, her projected finish time was 2:09:36.

Around the 40km mark, however, Assefa’s stride became uneven and she began to limp. She pressed on to finish in the third-fastest women’s marathon time ever recorded, taking 49 seconds off the 2:11:53 course record she set in 2023.

Assefa won in Berlin for the third time, following victories in 2022 and 2023. She also set a course record in each of those wins, a first in the event’s history. She was unable to give interviews after Sunday’s race and was taken to hospital before travelling to Munich for treatment of her Achilles injury.

Ethiopia swept the podium. Bedatu Hirpa finished second in 2:16:53, just two seconds ahead of Dera Dida in third.

Germany’s Esther Pfeiffer had hoped to break Irina Mikitenko’s national record of 2:19:19, set in Berlin in 2008. Paced by her husband, Hendrik Pfeiffer, she started at a pace under 2:20 but withdrew around 14km.

“Unfortunately the enormous pressure of expectation took its toll today and affected her stomach, amongst other things,” Hendrik Pfeiffer said. “Esther set off at record pace, but due to her condition she was unable to continue. She will be back and still has big plans for the marathon.”

With Laura Hottenrott withdrawing before the start, Berlin’s Anna Langerwisch became the leading German finisher. The 25-year-old placed 16th in 2:27:31, breaking 2:30 for the first time.

“I am overwhelmed, because I never expected I could be the fastest German,” Langerwisch said.

Finland’s European marathon champion Alisa Vainio also withdrew during the race, before reaching 10km.

SEE RESULTS HERE.