Volkswacht Bodensee - Assefa wins London Marathon in women's-only world record time

NYSE - LSE

CMSD	0%	22.29	$
NGG	-1.56%	79.44	$
RBGPF	-0.87%	60.61	$
CMSC	0.22%	22.37	$
GSK	-2.92%	50.67	$
RIO	-2.59%	100.08	$
RYCEF	-0.16%	18.4	$
AZN	-1.69%	174.93	$
BCE	0%	23.28	$
RELX	-2.66%	31.18	$
VOD	-1.61%	14.3	$
JRI	0.39%	12.67	$
BCC	5.16%	74.66	$
BP	-2.66%	39.1	$
BTI	-0.98%	58.91	$

Assefa wins London Marathon in women's-only world record time / Photo: © AFP

Assefa wins London Marathon in women's-only world record time

SPORTS 26.04.2026

Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa defended her London Marathon crown on Sunday, breaking her own women's-only world record.

Text size:

The reigning Olympic and world silver medallist was locked in a three-way tussle with Kenyan pair Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei, but pulled away in the closing stages to cross the line in a time of 2hr 15min 41sec.

That time beat by nine seconds her previous best, set on the same course last year.

Obiri, a two-time former world 5,000m champion who won marathon bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics, came in second in a personal best of 2:15:53.

She finished just two-hundredths of a second ahead of compatriot Jepkosgei.

The world record set in a mixed race where female athletes benefit from male pacemakers was by Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich, who clocked 2:09:56 at the Chicago Marathon in October 2024.

Chepngetich picked up a three-year doping ban in October 2025, although achievements and records pre-dating the March 2025 sample stand.

R.Braegger--VB

Volkswacht Bodensee - Assefa wins London Marathon in women's-only world record time

Assefa wins London Marathon in women's-only world record time

Featured

Iran to lodge complaint with FIFA over World Cup restrictions

'Old dog' Slipper out of retirement for Wallabies' Nations Championship campaign

Mexico into World Cup last 32, Canada celebrate historic win

Co-hosts Mexico first team into World Cup knockout rounds