LONDON, UK – Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa delivered a stunning performance at the 2025 London Marathon on Sunday, winning the women’s race in a blazing time of 2:15:50. Her finish not only secured victory but also set a new women’s-only world record, breaking the previous mark by 26 seconds. This record is recognized as the fastest marathon time run by a female athlete without male pacemakers.
Assefa, 28, came tantalizingly close to Paula Radcliffe’s longstanding London course record of 2:15:25, set 22 years ago, but narrowly missed surpassing it. Demonstrating remarkable strength and endurance, she pulled away from her closest rival, Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei, in the final stages of the race. Jepkosgei finished second with a time of 2:18:43.
Dutch Olympic champion Sifan Hassan claimed third place, crossing the finish line 16 seconds after Jepkosgei. Hassan had lost contact with the leaders around the halfway point but fought hard to secure a podium finish.
Men’s Race: Sabastian Sawe’s Breakthrough Victory
In the men’s race, Kenyan Sabastian Sawe achieved the most significant win of his career, crossing the finish line solo in 2:02:27. Sawe made a decisive move at a hydration station, capitalizing on hesitation from his rivals.
Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, the half-marathon world record holder, made an impressive marathon debut by finishing second in 2:03:37. The battle for third place was fiercely contested, with Kenya’s Alexander Mutiso Munyao narrowly edging out the Netherlands’ Abdi Nageeye, though official confirmation of the podium positions is still pending. Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge finished sixth, a rare off-podium result for the multiple-time world record holder.
Wheelchair Races: Swiss Athletes Dominate
Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner set a new course record in the women’s wheelchair race, completing the marathon in 1:34:18. She narrowly missed breaking her own world record by just two seconds, maintaining a pace that left her competitors struggling to keep up. Susannah Scaroni of the United States finished second nearly four minutes later, while Manuela Schär, also from Switzerland, took third place.
In the men’s wheelchair event, Marcel Hug of Switzerland secured his seventh London Marathon victory and fifth consecutive title, finishing in 1:25:25. Hug’s performance was nearly a minute ahead of second-place finisher Tomoki Suzuki of Japan. Hug’s win in London follows his recent victory at the Boston Marathon earlier this week, marking a remarkable double major marathon achievement.
Summary of Key Results:
| Event | Winner | Time | Notable Records/Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s Marathon | Tigst Assefa (ETH) | 2:15:50 | New women’s-only world record |
| Men’s Marathon | Sabastian Sawe (KEN) | 2:02:27 | Career-best victory |
| Women’s Wheelchair | Catherine Debrunner (SUI) | 1:34:18 | New course record, 2 seconds shy of world record |
| Men’s Wheelchair | Marcel Hug (SUI) | 1:25:25 | 7th London win, 5th consecutive |
The 2025 London Marathon once again showcased world-class athleticism and thrilling competition across all categories. Tigst Assefa’s record-breaking run cements her status among the elite marathoners, while Sawe’s breakthrough victory signals the arrival of a new contender in men’s distance running. The dominance of Swiss athletes in the wheelchair races further highlighted the depth of talent in para-athletics.
The event continues to be a highlight on the global marathon calendar, drawing elite runners and wheelchair athletes from around the world to compete on London’s iconic streets.