21-Year-Old Smashes Sydney Marathon Record by 84 Seconds

A year of hard work and self-reflection just earned 21-year-old Addisu Gobena a course record and $125,000 in prize money at the Sydney Marathon.

The Ethiopian runner crossed the finish line in 2:04:42, shattering the previous record by 84 seconds and outsprinting his countryman Chimdessa Debele by just three seconds. Gobena had enough energy left to leap into the air and pump his fists, while Debele bent over to catch his breath and playfully kicked his shoe at photographers.

"Last year I came second," Gobena said through a translator. "I learned from my mistake, and I went back home and I worked on my mistake to perform and break the record today."

The race stayed tight for most of the 26.2 miles, with a large pack of elite runners taking turns testing each other with surges. At the 18-mile mark, Gobena made his move and temporarily dropped the field to 12 runners, who quickly caught back up.

Seven men were still in contention at 24.5 miles. Only in the final mile did Gobena and 22-year-old Debele create separation from the pack, setting up their thrilling sprint to the finish.

Tebello Ramakongoana of Lesotho finished third in 2:04:57, nearly two minutes faster than his third-place time from last year. He barely edged out Kenya's Alphonce Simbu, who crossed the line at the exact same time.

Why This Inspires

Gobena's victory shows what happens when young athletes turn disappointment into fuel. Instead of dwelling on his runner-up finish in 2025, he returned home and focused on improving.

At just 21 and 22 years old respectively, Gobena and Debele likely have many more epic battles ahead of them. Their youth, speed, and competitive fire signal an exciting era for marathon running.

American Ethan Shuley also had a strong showing, finishing 13th in 2:08:34 and representing the U.S. well on the global stage.

This race marks only the second year that Sydney has been part of the prestigious World Marathon Majors series, and the record has already dropped dramatically. The future of this young competition looks bright, especially with talented runners like Gobena pushing the limits of human endurance.