Tigst Assefa
Who was Tigst Assefa?
Ethiopian marathon runner who set the women's world record at the 2023 Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:11:53.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Tigst Assefa (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Tigst Assefa Tessema is an Ethiopian long-distance runner, born on December 3, 1996, in Holeta Genet. She became one of the top marathon runners of the early 2020s, setting a world record that changed the landscape for women's marathon running. She started her athletic career specializing in the 800 meters before moving to road racing and eventually marathon running.
In her early career, Assefa showed great promise in track events. At age 16, she earned a bronze medal in the 800 meters at the 2013 African Junior Championships, showing her potential in middle-distance running. She continued to do well in this field, finishing fourth at the senior African Championships in 2014 and representing Ethiopia in the 800 meters at the 2016 Rio Olympics at just 19. This Olympic appearance proved she was a strong contender on the international stage.
In 2018, Assefa strategically shifted from track running to road races, which turned out to be a key decision for her career. She spent several years building her endurance and adjusting her training for longer distances. Her hard work paid off in 2022 when she ran her first marathon, immediately showcasing her incredible potential.
The 2022 and 2023 Berlin Marathons were pivotal in Assefa's career and in marathon history. At the 2022 Berlin Marathon, she ran the third-fastest female marathon time ever, showing she was a world-class marathoner. The next year, at the same event, she delivered one of the most remarkable performances in distance running history. On September 24, 2023, she broke the women's marathon world record by an astounding 2 minutes and 11 seconds, finishing in 2:11:53. She became the first woman to surpass the 2:14, 2:13, and 2:12 marks in one race.
Besides her world record, Assefa's success includes winning three World Marathon Majors, with two wins in Berlin and one in London, placing her among the elite marathon runners worldwide. Her world record stood until October 13, 2024, when Ruth Chepng'etich broke it at the Chicago Marathon with a time of 2:09:56. Even after losing the record, Assefa's impact on marathon running remains significant, showing that big improvements in marathon times are still possible and inspiring a new generation of distance runners to challenge the limits of what's achievable.
Before Fame
Tigst Assefa grew up in Holeta Genet, Ethiopia, a country known for producing top distance runners. The high-altitude environment, along with Ethiopia's strong running culture and coaching, provided a great foundation for developing endurance athletes. Ethiopia's success in international distance running, especially in the marathon and 10,000 meters, opened doors for young athletes like Assefa to pursue professional running careers.
Assefa's rise to prominence started with middle-distance running, particularly the 800 meters, which required different skills from the marathon events that later defined her career. Her early success at the African Junior Championships and Olympic qualification showed her natural talent and competitive spirit. The move from 800-meter specialist to marathon runner was a big change in training and race strategy, requiring her to build the endurance and mental strength needed for ultra-long-distance events.
Key Achievements
- Set the women's marathon world record with 2:11:53 at the 2023 Berlin Marathon
- Won three World Marathon Majors (two Berlin, one London)
- Represented Ethiopia in the 800 meters at the 2016 Rio Olympics
- Recorded the third-fastest female marathon time in history at the 2022 Berlin Marathon
- Won bronze medal in 800 meters at the 2013 African Junior Championships
Did You Know?
- 01.She improved the women's marathon world record by 2 minutes and 11 seconds, the largest single improvement in the women's marathon world record in over 20 years
- 02.Her marathon career began only in 2022, making her world record achievement just one year later particularly extraordinary
- 03.She represented Ethiopia in the 800 meters at the 2016 Rio Olympics before becoming a marathon world record holder
- 04.Her world record time of 2:11:53 made her the first woman to break three significant time barriers (2:14, 2:13, and 2:12) in a single marathon race
- 05.She won bronze at the African Junior Championships in the 800 meters at age 16, showing early promise as a middle-distance runner