Tigst Assefa Finishes Berlin Marathon With Severe Achilles Injury

Ethiopian marathon runner Tigst Assefa was on course for another extraordinary performance at the Berlin Marathon when a serious Achilles injury struck during the final stages of the race.

Assefa had spent most of the marathon running at a pace that put her within reach of the women’s world record. By the 30-kilometre mark, she was still running comfortably inside record pace.

But around the 31-kilometre mark, she began experiencing pain in her Achilles tendon.

Despite the discomfort, Assefa continued running. The problem became dramatically worse during the final kilometres, when she suffered a rupture in the tendon.

With only about two kilometres remaining, her running style changed noticeably. She struggled to push off with her foot, but continued towards the finish line.

Assefa eventually completed the race and finished with the third-fastest women’s marathon time in history.

She was unable to stand normally after crossing the finish line and required assistance as she left the course. Medical examinations later confirmed the seriousness of the injury, which required surgery to repair the damaged Achilles tendon.

The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel and plays an important role in walking and running. Sports physiotherapists told ABC that a rupture is generally a major injury that can significantly affect everyday movement as well as athletic performance.

Assefa’s ability to continue running after the injury attracted particular attention because she still managed to maintain a remarkable pace over the closing kilometres.

Her performance was even more notable because Berlin had initially appeared to be another opportunity for her to challenge the world record. She had already established herself among the leading marathon runners in the world and entered the race with a history of exceptional performances.

Assefa set the women’s world record in Berlin in 2023, running 2:11:53. She also holds the women’s-only marathon world record after running 2:15:41 at the London Marathon in April 2026.

The Berlin Marathon has long been associated with fast times because of its relatively flat course. Thirteen world records have been set there since 1974.

For Assefa, however, the latest race ended very differently from the record attempt she had imagined.

After the race, she thanked supporters for their messages and concern. She also indicated that she intended to return to Berlin in the future.

The injury means her immediate focus will shift from competition to recovery. Her rehabilitation will determine when she can safely return to training and racing.

Her Berlin performance nevertheless added another unusual chapter to an already remarkable marathon career: a race that began with the possibility of another world record and ended with a severe injury, yet still produced one of the fastest marathon times ever recorded by a woman.

Sources: ABC News Australia, The Associated Press.