Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa narrowly missed out on breaking the women's world record at the Berlin Marathon on Sunday, battling through injury to cross the finish line after being on record pace for much of the race.
Assefa was on track to break the record and accelerated in the final 10 kilometres, but faded in the closing stages, visibly limping across the finish line before collapsing on the road.
She finished in a time of 2hr 11min 04min, the third-best in history, breaking her personal best and course record of 2:11:53, set in 2023.
Absolute FIGHTER ❤️
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) September 27, 2026
After running on world record pace for 40km, Tigst Assefa was hit by an injury in the closing kilometres of the @berlinmarathonE.
Visibly limping to the line, she still manages to clock a big PB and third-fastest marathon in history with 2:11:04 💪 pic.twitter.com/DyAGXFV4gI
Assefa's late fade means the women's world record of 2:09:56 remains in the possession of Ruth Chepngetich, a mark clouded by the Kenyan's three-year doping ban handed down in 2025.
It was an all-Ethiopian podium as Bedatu Hirpa finished second in 2:16:53 and Dera Dida came third in 2:16:55.
Ethiopia's Guye Adola won the men's race in 2:02:50.
Adola's time was off world-record pace and outside the course record of 2:01:09, set in 2022 by five-time Berlin winner Eliud Kipchoge.
Gemechu Dida took second in 2:03:19, continuing an impressive event for the Ethiopians, with Gabriel Geay of Tanzania coming third in 2:03:59.
Held in temperate September, the Berlin marathon is considered the fastest of the major courses. The world record has been broken 13 times in Berlin, more than anywhere else.
The late withdrawal of men's world record holder Sebastian Sawe, the 2025 Berlin winner who became the first man to crack the two-hour barrier earlier this year, meant hopes of another world mark shifted to Assefa.
Paris Olympics silver medallist Assefa, now a three-time winner in Berlin, pledged to run "better than my best" before Sunday's race.
Assefa began strongly and had already opened up a lead of 25 seconds by the 5km mark, which grew to a minute at 15km.
Assefa largely stayed on world record pace throughout, only dropping below around the 25km mark at the flat course's only incline, before returning to record speed.
The Ethiopian was still on track for the record at 35km, but began to limp in the final stages as she gradually dropped off the required pace.