This page collects the Tamirat Tola marathon record in one place: his debut in Dubai in 2014, the world title in Eugene, the course record in New York, the Olympic gold in Paris and the 2026 wins in Doha and Beijing. Times and places come from his World Athletics profile, checked on 22 October 2026.
The numbers tell a clear story. Over twelve years Tamirat Tola has gone from 2:06:17 on debut to 2:02:59 in London on 26 April 2026, and he set seven course, championship and Olympic records along the way. For his early years and track career, see the main Tamirat Tola profile.
Every Tamirat Tola marathon in one table
The table lists the marathons in his World Athletics results and honours that we track, from 2014 to 18 October 2026. Small races and some unfinished starts may be missing from the database.
| Date | Race | Place | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Dubai Marathon | 4th | 2:06:17 | debut |
| 20 Jan 2017 | Dubai Marathon | 1st | 2:04:11 | course record |
| 6 Aug 2017 | World Championships, London | 2nd | 2:09:49 | silver |
| 4 Nov 2018 | New York City Marathon | 4th | 2:08:30 | |
| 28 Apr 2019 | London Marathon | 6th | 2:06:57 | |
| 3 Nov 2019 | New York City Marathon | 4th | 2:09:20 | |
| 4 Oct 2020 | London Marathon | 6th | 2:06:41 | |
| 17 Oct 2021 | Amsterdam Marathon | 1st | 2:03:39 | course record |
| 6 Mar 2022 | Tokyo Marathon | 3rd | 2:04:14 | |
| 17 Jul 2022 | World Championships, Eugene | 1st | 2:05:36 | championship record |
| 23 Apr 2023 | London Marathon | 3rd | 2:04:59 | |
| 27 Aug 2023 | World Championships, Budapest | – | DNF | |
| 5 Nov 2023 | New York City Marathon | 1st | 2:04:58 | course record |
| 10 Aug 2024 | Olympic Games, Paris | 1st | 2:06:26 | Olympic record |
| 3 Nov 2024 | New York City Marathon | 4th | 2:08:12 | |
| 27 Apr 2025 | London Marathon | 5th | 2:04:42 | |
| 16 Jan 2026 | Doha Marathon | 1st | 2:05:40 | course record |
| 26 Apr 2026 | London Marathon | 5th | 2:02:59 | personal best |
| 18 Oct 2026 | Beijing Marathon | 1st | 2:03:10 | course record |
In the Abbott World Marathon Majors his record up to 22 October 2026 reads one win (New York 2023), two third places (Tokyo 2022 and London 2023) and several more top-eight finishes in London and New York.
Tamirat Tola marathon PB: 2:02:59 in London
His fastest marathon came on 26 April 2026 in London, where he finished 5th in 2:02:59. The 2026 London race was unusually fast: Sabastian Sawe won in 1:59:30, so a lifetime best was only good enough for fifth. Before that day his best had been 2:03:39 from Amsterdam in 2021, a mark that stood for four and a half years. In 2026 he cut 40 seconds from his best, after seventeen marathons in the table above.
Six months later, on 18 October 2026, he ran 2:03:10 in Beijing, the second-fastest time of his career, and this time he won.
Key races, one by one
Dubai 2017: the first big win
Three years after his 4th place on debut in Dubai, he returned on 20 January 2017 and won in a course record of 2:04:11. On 6 August 2017 he added world championship silver in London in 2:09:49. Championship marathons are run without pacemakers, so their times are usually slower than in city races.
Amsterdam 2021 and Eugene 2022
On 17 October 2021 he won Amsterdam in a course record of 2:03:39. Nine months later, on 17 July 2022, he won the world title in Eugene in 2:05:36, a championship record. His best position in the World Athletics marathon ranking is No. 1, held for 36 weeks (rankings data as of 22 October 2026).
Tamirat Tola NYC marathon: three 4th places and a course record
He has started the New York City Marathon four times. He finished 4th there in 2018 (2:08:30), 2019 (2:09:20) and 2024 (2:08:12). On 5 November 2023 he won it in 2:04:58, a course record and his only Major win as of 22 October 2026. He is not reported in the field for the 2026 race on 1 November.
Tamirat Tola London marathon 2026 and earlier London races
London has given him five top-six finishes: 6th in 2019 and 2020, 3rd in 2023, 5th in 2025 and 5th in 2026. The 2026 race brought the 2:02:59 personal best.
Doha and Beijing 2026: two course records in one year
The 2026 season opened on 16 January in Doha with a win in 2:05:40, a course record and his first victory since the Paris Olympics. On 18 October 2026 he won in Beijing in 2:03:10, a course record and the fastest marathon run in China.
Records set on the road
These marks are listed as records in our sources, checked on 22 October 2026:
- Olympic record – 2:06:26, Paris, 10 August 2024.
- World Championships record – 2:05:36, Eugene, 17 July 2022.
- New York City Marathon course record – 2:04:58, 5 November 2023.
- Beijing Marathon course record – 2:03:10, 18 October 2026.
- Doha Marathon course record – 2:05:40, 16 January 2026.
The Paris race and the replacement call-up that led to it are described on the Tamirat Tola at the Olympics page.
Where to watch a Tamirat Tola marathon in Ethiopia
As of 22 October 2026 no next race has been announced for him. If he runs one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors next, note that London, Boston and New York were shown in sub-Saharan Africa on SuperSport pay TV in 2025–2026. Dubai, which he won in 2017, was streamed free worldwide in 2026 and its 2027 edition is set for 17 January 2027. Tokyo (7 March 2027) has no confirmed Ethiopian broadcaster.
Official rights holders only, checked 22 October 2026. Rights change by event and season – check the broadcaster’s schedule before a race. We do not link to unofficial streams.
For other Ethiopian marathon runners and the season calendar, see our Ethiopian athletes hub. Another Olympic champion now racing the distance is Selemon Barega.
Tamirat Tola marathon FAQ
How many marathons has Tamirat Tola won?
The World Athletics results we track show seven marathon wins up to 22 October 2026: Dubai 2017, Amsterdam 2021, the 2022 World Championships, New York 2023, the 2024 Olympics, Doha 2026 and Beijing 2026.
What is Tamirat Tola’s fastest marathon time?
2:02:59, run in London on 26 April 2026, where he finished 5th. His second-fastest is 2:03:10 from his Beijing win on 18 October 2026.
Did Tamirat Tola win the New York City Marathon?
Yes, on 5 November 2023, in a course record of 2:04:58. He has also finished 4th in New York three times (2018, 2019 and 2024).
Where did Tamirat Tola run his first marathon?
In Dubai in 2014, finishing 4th in 2:06:17. He returned to Dubai in 2017 and won in a course record.