Tigst Assefa wins Berlin Marathon despite Achilles tear

Tigst Assefa faces an estimated seven-month absence after winning the Berlin Marathon with a fully ruptured right Achilles tendon. The Ethiopian runner underwent surgery in Bavaria on Monday and could return at the London Marathon in April 2027. She had already experienced an Achilles problem a decade ago.

Assefa won Sunday’s race in 2:11:04, a personal best and the third-fastest women’s marathon time recorded. Her mark was 1:08 outside the world record of 2:09:56, set by Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich in Chicago in 2024. Berlin is one of the sport’s fastest marathon courses and has hosted several record performances.

The injury emerged during the race rather than before the start. Assefa began to feel pain after 31 kilometres but remained on world-record pace until about the 40-kilometre point. Her condition then worsened, and she was seen grimacing and limping during the closing stages.

The race director identified the problem as involving her right Achilles tendon after the finish. Her manager later said the tendon lost all of its fibres during the last two kilometres and was completely torn by the time she crossed the line. Assefa was reportedly unable to move normally after finishing, but still completed the race and secured the Berlin title before beginning a long rehabilitation period.