- Tigist Assefa has won the 2025 London Marathon title in a women’s world record time of 2:15.50.
- Assefa was followed by Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei and Dutch runner Sifan Hassan.
- Assefa’s time was more than a minute faster than the previous women’s world record of 2:16.16 that was set by Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir at the 2024 London Marathon.
Tigist Assefa made history on Sunday morning, April 27 when she smashed the women’s world record at the 2025 London Marathon.
Assefa produced a fantastic kick to win the prestigious title in a time of 2:15.50 and in the process set a new women’s only world record.
Assefa approached the race in a tactical manner, running closer to the leading pack that was full of stars such as former champions Sifan Hassan and Joyciline Jepkosgei.
Assefa and Jepkosgei drop Hassan at 2025 London Marathon
As the battle got tougher, most of the athletes started to drop one by one but Assefa remained unshakable.
She continued to push alongside the front runners and by the half way mark, she found herself in control of the race slightly ahead of her Kenyan opponent Jepkosgei.
ALSO READ: Why Peres Jepchirchir’s women’s only world record may fall at London Marathon 2025
These two athletes crossed the half way mark in an impressive time of 1:06.40 with Hassan following them closely.
Assefa and Jepkosgei continued to run in a faster pace and by the 18km mark, Hassan was no where to be seen.
The other remarkable thing about the duo is that they were running at the women’s only world record pace at this time.
Assefa takes command of the 2025 London Marathon
Assefa, who won the 2023 Berlin Marathon, went on to drop Jepkosgei with about six kilometres remaining to the end of the race.
The Ethiopian runner turned on the gears as the huge crowd that had turned out in the streets of London cheered her on.
Assefa lowers Peres Jepchirchir’s world record at the 2025 London Marathon
She went on to cut the tape in a women’s world record time which was more than a minute faster than the previous mark of 2:16.16 that was set by Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir at the same course last year.
The latter was expected to take part in this year’s edition but she was forced to withdraw at the eleventh hour after picking up an injury.
Meanwhile, Jepkosgei and Hassan crossed the finishing line in 2:18.44 and 2:19.00 to secure the second and third positions in that order.
Assefa will receive a bonus of $125,000 for setting a novel women’s world record at the 2025 London Marathon.
List of Assefa and other women who finished inside the top six positions in 2025 London Marathon
Tigist Assefa: 2:15.50 (Ethiopia)
- Sifan Hassan: 2:19.00 (Netherlands)
- Joyciline Jepkosgei: 2:18.44 (Kenya)
- Haven Desse: 2:19.17 (Ethiopia)
- Vivian Cheruiyot: 2:22:32 (Kenya)
- Stella Chesang: 2:22.42 (Uganda)
ALSO READ: Mouthwatering bonus athletes will get for breaking world record at 2025 London Marathon