The Tigst Assefa world record story involves three different marks. In Berlin on 24 September 2023 she ran 2:11:53 in a mixed race, a world record at the time. In London she then set two world records for women-only races: 2:15:50 on 27 April 2025 and 2:15:41 on 26 April 2026. World Athletics counts three world records in her career, and as of 22 October 2026 it lists her as the current world record holder in the marathon in its women-only category.
Because the women's marathon has two official record categories, headlines about a Tigst Assefa world record can be confusing. This page sets out each record with its date and its status as of 22 October 2026. Her biography is on the main Tigst Assefa page.
Mixed race and women-only: two kinds of marathon record
World Athletics keeps two world records in the women's marathon. A mixed-race record can be set in a race where women run alongside men, who may pace them. A women-only record is set in a race where the elite women start separately and no male pacemakers are involved. Times in women-only races are usually slower, so the two lists are kept apart.
As of 22 October 2026 the mixed-race world record belongs to Ruth Chepngetich (2:09:56, Chicago 2024), while the women-only world record belongs to Tigst Assefa (2:15:41, London 2026).
Tigst Assefa world record in Berlin: 2:11:53 (24 September 2023)
On 24 September 2023, a year after her first Berlin win, she returned to the German capital and won in 2:11:53, improving the women's world record by more than two minutes. The time was ratified by World Athletics.
The record stood for just over a year until Ruth Chepngetich ran 2:09:56 in Chicago in 2024. As of 22 October 2026 the Berlin run is therefore a former world record. It was also the Ethiopian record until 15 March 2026, when Fotyen Tesfay, her training partner, ran 2:10:51 in Barcelona.
Women-only world records in London
27 April 2025: 2:15:50
The London Marathon starts its elite women's race separately from the men, which is why records set there count in the women-only category. On 27 April 2025 Tigst Assefa won there in 2:15:50, a new world record in that category and her first London title. As of 22 October 2026 it is a former world record, as she improved it herself a year later.
26 April 2026: 2:15:41
Returning as defending champion on 26 April 2026, she won again in 2:15:41, nine seconds faster than in 2025. As of 22 October 2026 World Athletics lists her as the current holder of the women-only marathon world record; we have not seen a separate ratification notice for this mark.
Berlin 2026: her fastest time, but no world record
On 27 September 2026 she won Berlin for the third time in 2:11:04 – her personal best, a Berlin course record and, at that date, the third-fastest marathon ever run by a woman. It was not a world record (the mixed-race mark is 2:09:56) and not an Ethiopian record (2:10:51 by Fotyen Tesfay, as of 22 October 2026). She ran the final part of the race with a ruptured Achilles tendon and had surgery the next day; the details are on her main page.
Tigst Assefa records at a glance (as of 22 October 2026)
| Mark | Date | Race | Category | Status on 22 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2:11:53 | 24 Sep 2023 | Berlin Marathon | Mixed race | Former world record; former Ethiopian record |
| 2:15:50 | 27 Apr 2025 | London Marathon | Women-only | Former world record |
| 2:15:41 | 26 Apr 2026 | London Marathon | Women-only | Current world record (per World Athletics) |
| 2:11:04 | 27 Sep 2026 | Berlin Marathon | Mixed race | Personal best; Berlin course record |
Every result is on the list of Tigst Assefa marathon races, including her debut in Riyadh in 2022.
Records and rankings
Her records are reflected in the World Athletics ranking. As of 22 October 2026 she had spent 130 weeks at No. 1 in the women's marathon list, and her best position in the overall ranking of women across all events was fifth. Her marathons also show two different strengths. Berlin, a mixed race in which male pacemakers can run with the women, produced both of her fastest times: 2:11:53 in 2023 and 2:11:04 in 2026. London, where the elite women run on their own, rewards the ability to set the pace alone – and she won there in 2025 and 2026 with nearly identical times, 2:15:50 and 2:15:41.
Where to watch Tigst Assefa
As of 22 October 2026 she has no confirmed race. The London and Berlin marathons, where all her records were set, have been broadcast in Ethiopia by SuperSport on pay TV.
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 record holders, such as the Olympic marathon champion Tamirat Tola, see the Ethiopian athletes hub.
Tigst Assefa world record FAQ
Does Tigst Assefa hold the marathon world record?
She holds the women-only marathon world record, 2:15:41 from London on 26 April 2026, as of 22 October 2026. The mixed-race record is held by Ruth Chepngetich (2:09:56).
What was Tigst Assefa's time in Berlin 2023?
2:11:53 on 24 September 2023 – a world record at the time, bettered in Chicago in 2024.
How many world records has Tigst Assefa set?
Three, according to World Athletics as of 22 October 2026: 2:11:53 (2023), 2:15:50 (2025) and 2:15:41 (2026).
Is 2:11:04 a world record?
No. Her Berlin win on 27 September 2026 is her personal best and a course record, but it is slower than both the world record (2:09:56) and the Ethiopian record (2:10:51).
What shoes did Tigst Assefa wear for her world records?
According to press reports, she wore the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 in Berlin in 2023 and the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 in London in 2026.