Marathon Champion Assefa Eyes London Repeat Win in April

The world's fastest female marathoners are heading to London for what could be the most competitive race in the event's history.

Tigst Assefa will defend her London Marathon crown on April 26 against three of the sport's biggest names. The Ethiopian set a women-only world record last year with a stunning time of 2:15:50, but she's hungry for more after narrow losses at recent global championships.

Olympic champion Sifan Hassan and world champion Peres Jepchirchir will both challenge Assefa in a rematch of their dramatic sprint finishes. Hassan edged Assefa by just three seconds at the Paris 2024 Olympics, while Jepchirchir beat her at the World Championships.

"Winning last year's London Marathon and setting a women-only world record was one of the proudest moments of my career, and I want to repeat that again this year," Assefa said. She knows beating Hassan and Jepchirchir won't be easy but welcomes the challenge.

Four of the six fastest women in marathon history will line up together, including Joyciline Jepkosgei. All four have run faster than Paula Radcliffe's legendary 2:15:25 record, a time that stood alone for 15 years until 2019.

The women-only world record applies to races without male pacemakers. Assefa remains the second-fastest female marathoner ever after running 2:11:53 in Berlin in 2023.

Why This Inspires

Women's marathon running is experiencing a golden age. Eight women have now broken what was once considered an unbeatable barrier in just seven years, proving that limits are meant to be challenged.

The race also features Uruguay's Julia Paternain, who was raised in the UK and made headlines with her stunned reaction after earning an unexpected bronze medal last year. Her joy reminded the world that sports are about more than just winning.

London's streets will host something special on April 26: a celebration of athletic excellence, fierce but respectful rivalry, and the power of pushing boundaries together.