Ethiopian athlete Tigst Assefa emerged victorious at the 52nd Berlin Marathon, held in Berlin, Germany on September 27, 2026. Despite being on track to break the women's marathon record, Assefa slowed down slightly at the 35-kilometre mark due to a leg injury. The 29-year-old limped across the finish line and collapsed, but still achieved a remarkable time of 2:11:04, the third-best mark ever recorded by a woman over the distance.
Assefa's impressive performance was marred by a severe injury, which her manager, Gianni Demadonna, later confirmed was a complete rupture of the tendon in her Achilles. Demadonna revealed that Assefa began to feel pain after 31km, and by the last two kilometres, the tendon had lost all its fibres and was completely torn. Despite the severity of the injury, Assefa managed to finish the race, a feat that Demadonna described as "amazing".
Following the marathon, Assefa underwent surgery at a clinic in Munich, specialising in sports and tendon injuries, where Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Jamal Musiala also received treatment. Her sponsor arranged for her to be flown to Bavaria on a private jet. Demadonna expressed concern about the extent of the injury, stating that Assefa was "not able to move, to do anything" after the race.
Assefa's manager provided insight into the athlete's condition during the final stages of the race. According to Demadonna, Assefa was "running with one leg and the other one was just landing on the ground, it just wasn't pushing". Despite the horrific injury, Assefa managed to complete the marathon, a testament to her determination and resilience.
The injury is expected to keep Assefa sidelined for around seven months, but she may be able to return to competition in time for the London Marathon in April 2027. Demadonna expressed hope that the recovery process would go smoothly, stating that Assefa was "in safe hands". The athlete's long-term health and performance will be closely monitored during her rehabilitation.
Assefa's achievement at the Berlin Marathon marked her third win in the event. She switched from road racing to marathon running after suffering a previous Achilles injury in 2016. Her manager praised her for finishing the race despite the severity of the injury, acknowledging that it was an incredible feat.
Assefa's determination and perseverance have earned her recognition and admiration. Despite being unable to break the women's marathon record, her performance at the Berlin Marathon was still impressive. Her manager concluded that while Assefa was unhappy about tearing her tendon, it was remarkable that she had managed to finish the race.
Key points
- Assefa finished the Berlin Marathon with a torn Achilles, a severe injury that may keep her sidelined for seven months.
- Despite the injury, Assefa achieved a remarkable time of 2:11:04, the third-best mark ever recorded by a woman over the distance.
- Assefa may be able to return to competition in time for the London Marathon in April 2027.
