Pure joy at the 2023 BMW BERLIN MARATHON: Assefa storms to world record, Kipchoge becomes record winner.

+++ Tigst Assefa (ETH) is the fastest female marathon runner in the world, with a time of 2:11:53 hours +++ Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) wins his fifth title in Berlin in 2:02:42 hours +++ German record goes to Amanal Petros (2:04:58 hours) +++ 48,000 athletes celebrate a sporting festival with fans in the capital +++

Berlin. The 49th BMW BERLIN MARATHON again underlined the event’s reputation for record breaking runs. Leading the way this year was defending champion Tigst Assefa, who thrilled roughly a million fans along the 42.195-kilometre route with a blistering time. At the finish, the clock on the lead car – the first all-electric BMW i5 – stopped at 2:11:53 hours, meaning the Ethiopian had smashed the previous world record by a sensational 2:11 minutes. Last year’s champion also triumphed again in the men’s race. Eliud Kipchoge’s time of 2:02.42 minutes may not have beaten his world record from last year, but he still made history; the Kenyan became the first runner to win the fastest marathon in the world five times.

“More than 60,000 people gave amazing sporting performances at the 2023 BMW BERLIN MARATHON, from the youngest in the mini-Marathon to the running elite, who again dazzled with world-class times. They all deserve great respect, although Tigst Assefa’s historic performance obviously stands out. Congratulations on an impressive world record,” said Stefan Teuchert, Head of BMW Group Deutschland. “As title partner for the twelfth time, the BMW Group is proud to have again contributed to the success of this diverse event, which brings together people from all over the world. Our thanks to go everyone who helped to make the BMW BERLIN MARATHON a unique experience: the team at our partner SCC EVENTS, the 7,500 volunteers, and all the fans along the route.”

Right from the word go, Assefa left no doubt that she had grand intentions for the 2023 BMW BERLIN MARATHON. At every intermediate timing point, the 29-year-old had extended her average over the time of Brigid Kosgei (KEN) at the same distance when she set the previous world record (Chicago, 2019, 2:14:04). A lead of almost six minutes over second-placed Sheila Chepkirui (2:17:29) underlined the fact that Assefa was in a league of her own. Third place went to Magdalena Shaun from Tanzania (2:18:41). Domenika Meyer (2:23:47) was the best-placed German, finishing 14th.

“I did not expect to run so fast and go under 2:12 hours. However, that is the result of hard work. I hope this victory inspires a lot of women, particularly from underprivileged areas, to set themselves goals and to fight for those goals,” said Assefa.

Kipchoge also started very quickly and was on course for a world record at times. However, the double Olympic champion was not quite able to maintain the high pace. Despite that, he still took a relatively comfortable victory to claim his fifth title at the BMW BERLIN MARATHON, having also triumphed in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022. The 38-year-old now has one win more to his name than Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie.

Second and third across the finish line were two debutants in the Abbott World Marathon Majors, the six biggest marathons in the world. Vincent Kipkemoi (KEN, 2:03:13) and Tadese Takele (ETH, 2:03:24) gave excellent performances. The same can be said of Amanal Petros, who became the first German runner to break the 2:05-hour barrier. The best-placed European finished ninth in a time of 2:04:58 hours.

The women’s handbike race produced a German one-two, with Julia Dierkesmann winning ahead of Katrin Möller and France’s Meggie Gay. Victory in the men’s race went to Frenchman Joseph Fritsch. His compatriot Johan Qualie and Germany’s Vico Merklein were second and third.

The fastest man in a wheelchair was Marcel Hug. The Swiss came home ahead of Daniel Romanchuk (USA) and David Weir (GBR). In the women’s race, winner Catherine Debrunner (SUI) was joined on the podium by Eden Rainbow Cooper (GBR) and Manuela Schär (SUI).

Title partner BMW supported the BMW BERLIN MARATHON with 66 electric route and organisational vehicles. The all-electric BMW i5 and BMW i4 were used as lead cars. The BMW iX safety car was also emission-free, as were six BMW CE 04 scooters. The marathon was a home outing for the two-wheelers that are produced at the BMW Group plant in Berlin.

The BMW Group Plant Berlin can look back on a long tradition of motorcycle manufacturing. BMW motorcycles have been produced in Berlin-Spandau since 1969. With over 2,200 employees and a capacity of up to 900 motorcycles and premium e-scooters per day, the plant is the heart of BMW Motorrad’s global production. 28 to 33 models are produced in Berlin – that is almost the entire range of BMW Motorrad models. Roughly 80 percent of the motorcycles manufactured are exported to more than 130 countries around the world.