Tamirat Tola is the Ethiopian road runner who won the Olympic marathon in Paris on 10 August 2024 after joining the team only about two weeks before the race. Two years earlier, on 17 July 2022, he had become world champion in Eugene, and on 5 November 2023 he won the New York City Marathon in a course record. Few distance runners have collected championship gold and big-city wins in the same short spell.
His longevity is the other half of the story. Tamirat Tola, born on 11 August 1991, ran his fastest marathon, 2:02:59, in London on 26 April 2026, and in 2026 he also won in Doha and Beijing, both in course records. Below we follow his career from the first half marathons recorded in 2013 to his last race before this update, Beijing on 18 October 2026, using the World Athletics results database as the main source.
| Born | 11 August 1991 |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | Oromia Region |
| Events | Marathon, Half marathon, 10,000m, 10 km road, Cross country |
| Personal bests | Marathon – 2:02:59, 2026 Half marathon – 59:37, 2017 10,000 m – 26:57.33, 2016 10 km road – 28:12, 2018 |
Data: World Athletics, checked 22 October 2026. Results and records change after every race.
From Oromia road races to an international career
Tamirat Tola comes from the Oromia regional state, according to his biographies; we could not confirm the town where he was born. Our sources say almost nothing about his childhood, and we do not fill that gap with guesses. What can be traced is his racing record, and it begins on the road rather than on the track.
The earliest results in his World Athletics profile date from 2013. On 12 May 2013 he won the Hawassa Half Marathon in 1:02:44, and on 8 June 2013 he won the České Budějovice Half Marathon in the Czech Republic in 1:02:04. On 27 October 2013 he ran 1:00:14 for 20 km in Cassis, France, which is still his best at that distance as of 22 October 2026. His World Athletics profile shows no junior championship results: his name first appears in senior road racing.
Cross country followed. On 28 March 2015 he finished 6th in the senior race at the World Cross Country Championships in Guiyang, China, in 35:33 – a strong result for a runner who had made his marathon debut only a year before. He is represented by the Italian manager Gianni Demadonna, according to the World Athletics profile, and his coach is reportedly Gemedu Dedefo.
Career highlights, stage by stage
2014–2016: debut in Dubai and a medal in Rio
His first marathon came in Dubai in 2014: 4th in 2:06:17. In 2016 he combined road and track. On 26 March 2016 he finished 5th at the World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff in 1:00:06, and on 27 May 2016 he ran 26:57.33 for 10,000m in Eugene, still his track best as of 22 October 2026. The season peaked on 13 August 2016 with 10,000m bronze in Rio de Janeiro in 27:06.26. Both of his Olympic medals are covered race by race on our Tamirat Tola olympics page.
2017: a Dubai course record and world silver
The year 2017 confirmed him as a top marathoner. On 20 January 2017 he won the Dubai Marathon in a course record of 2:04:11. On 1 April 2017 he won the Prague Half Marathon in 59:37, which remains his best half marathon on a record-eligible course. On 6 August 2017 he took silver in the marathon at the World Championships in London in 2:09:49.
2018–2020: consistent places in the majors
The next three seasons brought no major title but steady places in the biggest city races: 4th in New York on 4 November 2018 (2:08:30), 6th in London on 28 April 2019 (2:06:57), 4th in New York on 3 November 2019 (2:09:20) and 6th in London on 4 October 2020 (2:06:41). He also won the Bogotá Half Marathon on 28 July 2019 in 1:02:35 and ran 28:12 for 10 km on the road in Bolzano on 31 December 2018. On 8 September 2019 he clocked 59:13 at South Shields, but that course is not eligible for records, so World Athletics lists the time separately.
2021–2023: Amsterdam, Eugene and New York
His most successful period began in Amsterdam on 17 October 2021, where he won in a course record 2:03:39. On 6 March 2022 he was 3rd in Tokyo in 2:04:14, and on 17 July 2022 he became world champion in Eugene in a championship record of 2:05:36. After 3rd place in London on 23 April 2023 (2:04:59) and a DNF at the World Championships in Budapest on 27 August 2023, he won the New York City Marathon on 5 November 2023 in 2:04:58, a course record. It is his only win in the Abbott World Marathon Majors as of 22 October 2026.
2024: gold in Paris as a late call-up
He was not in Ethiopia’s original marathon team for Paris. About two weeks before the race he was called in as a replacement, and on 10 August 2024 he won in 2:06:26, an Olympic record that still stands as of 22 October 2026. It was Ethiopia’s first Olympic men’s marathon title since 2000. After the gold he was reportedly promoted within the Oromia Police Club, and on 3 November 2024 he finished 4th in New York in 2:08:12.
2025–2026: a lifetime best and two course records
In 2025 his World Athletics profile shows one race: 5th in London on 27 April 2025 in 2:04:42. The 2026 season was his most productive in years, with three marathons, two wins and a lifetime best. Every result and the full list of times is collected on the page with Tamirat Tola marathon results.
Major titles and medals
| Year | Competition | City | Event | Place | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro | 10,000m | 3rd | 27:06.26 |
| 2017 | Dubai Marathon | Dubai | Marathon | 1st | 2:04:11 |
| 2017 | World Championships | London | Marathon | 2nd | 2:09:49 |
| 2021 | Amsterdam Marathon | Amsterdam | Marathon | 1st | 2:03:39 |
| 2022 | Tokyo Marathon | Tokyo | Marathon | 3rd | 2:04:14 |
| 2022 | World Championships | Eugene | Marathon | 1st | 2:05:36 |
| 2023 | London Marathon | London | Marathon | 3rd | 2:04:59 |
| 2023 | New York City Marathon | New York | Marathon | 1st | 2:04:58 |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris | Marathon | 1st | 2:06:26 |
| 2026 | Doha Marathon | Doha | Marathon | 1st | 2:05:40 |
| 2026 | Beijing Marathon | Beijing | Marathon | 1st | 2:03:10 |
In the World Athletics rankings his best position in the men’s marathon list is No. 1, a place he held for 36 weeks (rankings data as of 22 October 2026).
Tamirat Tola in 2026: four races, three wins
The 2026 season opened in Qatar on 16 January with a course record in Doha, his first victory since Paris. In London on 26 April 2026 he finished 5th but ran 2:02:59, the fastest time of his career, in a race won by Sabastian Sawe in 1:59:30. In the summer he won the Castelbuono road race in Italy on 26 July 2026 (11.273 km, 34:26), and on 18 October 2026 he won in Beijing in 2:03:10, a course record and the fastest marathon ever run in China.
| Date | Race | City | Event | Place | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jan 2026 | Doha Marathon by Ooredoo | Doha | Marathon | 1st | 2:05:40 |
| 26 Apr 2026 | TCS London Marathon | London | Marathon | 5th | 2:02:59 |
| 26 Jul 2026 | Giro Podistico Internazionale di Castelbuono | Castelbuono | Road race | 1st | 34:26 |
| 18 Oct 2026 | Bank of China Beijing Marathon | Beijing | Marathon | 1st | 2:03:10 |
How many races has Tamirat Tola run and won?
From 2013 to 2026 the World Athletics database lists 53 results for Tamirat Tola, as of 22 October 2026 (heats and finals counted separately; the database may be incomplete). All 53 results from 2013–2026 are finals, because road races and championship marathons have no heats. Over 2013–2026 he has 16 wins in finals and 4 results recorded as DNF or DQ.
His busiest years were 2015 and 2016, with 6 recorded races each. The most successful single season by wins is 2026: 4 races and 3 wins as of 22 October 2026. In 2013, 2017 and 2022 he won twice each; in 2014, 2020 and 2025 the database shows no win. Minor races are not always added to the profile, so the real totals are probably a little higher.
Tamirat Tola next race: what is known as of 22 October 2026
As of 22 October 2026, Tamirat Tola’s next race has not been announced by any organiser or by the media. He is not reported in the field for the TCS New York City Marathon on 1 November 2026, and his plans for 2027 have not been published. The 2027 World Championships will be held in Beijing in September 2027, but no Ethiopian team has been selected.
The races below are the main road events of the coming months. We list them as races to watch, not as races he is entered in:
- Valencia Marathon – 6 December 2026 (date confirmed by organisers).
- Dubai Marathon – 17 January 2027 (confirmed), a race he won in 2017.
- Tokyo Marathon – 7 March 2027 (confirmed).
- World Athletics Road Running Championships, Yangzhou – 27 March 2027 (reported; some sources say 28 March).
- TCS London Marathon – 24–25 April 2027 (confirmed; the elite race day is not yet announced).
Dates and the wider calendar of Ethiopian runners are kept up to date on our Ethiopian athletes page. Official entries appear first on his World Athletics profile and on race websites.
Where to watch Tamirat Tola race in Ethiopia
For a road specialist the broadcaster depends on the race. World Athletics Series events, including the Road Running Championships in Yangzhou in March 2027 and the World Championships in Beijing in September 2027, are shown free-to-air in Ethiopia by Hagerie TV under a deal announced on 7 May 2026. The big city marathons – London, New York, Berlin and Boston – were carried in sub-Saharan Africa by SuperSport on pay TV in 2025–2026. The 2026 Dubai Marathon was streamed free worldwide on the race’s official YouTube channel and shown by EBC.
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.
Fellow Ethiopian Olympic champion Selemon Barega has also moved from the track to the marathon; his profile shows how differently the two careers were built.
Tamirat Tola FAQ
When and where was Tamirat Tola born?
He was born on 11 August 1991. According to his biographies he comes from the Oromia region of Ethiopia; we could not confirm the exact town.
What is Tamirat Tola’s marathon PB?
His marathon personal best is 2:02:59, set when finishing 5th at the London Marathon on 26 April 2026 (as of 22 October 2026).
Has Tamirat Tola won an Olympic gold medal?
Yes. He won the marathon at the Paris Olympics on 10 August 2024 in an Olympic record of 2:06:26. He also won 10,000m bronze in Rio de Janeiro on 13 August 2016.
What shoes does Tamirat Tola race in?
According to running media, he wore the adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 when he won New York in 2023 and the Olympic marathon in 2024.
How is Tamirat Tola’s name written in Amharic?
Ethiopian media, including Fana, write his name as ታምራት ቶላ. His full name is Tamirat Tola Abera.
When is Tamirat Tola’s next race?
As of 22 October 2026 no race after Beijing (18 October 2026) has been announced. We will add it here once an organiser confirms his entry.