Ethiopian long-distance runner Tigst Assefa set a new world record on Sunday as she won the 2026 London Marathon.
Meanwhile, in the men’s race, three men finished a marathon in under two hours for the first time in history.
Tigst smashed her own women-only world record, which she previously set by winning the London Marathon on April 27, 2025, with a time of 2:15:50. By winning this year’s competition, she has strengthened her position as the third-fastest woman in history across all marathon formats. Tigst also previously held the overall world record of 2:11:53, which she set in a mixed-gender race at the 2023 Berlin Marathon.
In this fierce competition, two Kenyan athletes took second and third place: Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei crossed the finishing line in 2:15:53 and 2:15:55, respectively.
In the men’s race, three men completed a full marathon in under two hours for the first time in history: Kenyans Sabastian Sawe (1:59:30) and Eliud Kipchoge (1:59:40), and Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha (1:59:41).
Sabastian Sawe broke the previous official record of 2:00:35 set by the late Kelvin Kiptum.
