From Eliud Kipchoge to Tigst Assefa: Berlin Marathon’s World Record Past – FloTrack

Over the last 50 years, the Berlin Marathon has slowly carved itself into the foundation of the marathon distance, playing host to 13 world records.

In 1974, Horst Milde, a local baker and fan of the sport founded the race in the midst of the Cold War. The inaugural marathon came up short of 250 finishers, while nearly 55,000 are gearing up for the 50th anniversary.  

Throughout the last half-decade, men and women from all over the world have used the temperate racing conditions and flat course to run their way to world records, with the first record-breaking run dating back to 1977.

The first person to ever break a world record on the streets of Berlin was West Germany’s Christa Vahlensieck, who won in 2:34:47, smashing the record on German soil.

21 years later in 1998, Brazilian long-distance legend Ronaldo da Costa broke the longtime world record, stopping the clock at 2:06:05, a mark that would remain untouched for six years.

Just before the turn of the century, Kenya’s Tegla Loroupe finally toppled Vahlensieck’s record, running 2:20:43 to break the 22-year-old record.

In 2001, the world saw the first-ever sub-2:20 marathon when Japanese juggernaut Naoko Takahashi clocked 2:19:46, etching her name into history.

In 2003, Kenya’s Paul Tergat dipped under 2:05, running 2:04:55 on a new-look course that gave athletes the opportunity to run through the Brandenburg Gate.

In 2007, Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie broke the record in 2:04:26, before becoming the first man under 2:04 a year later after running 2:03:59. Gebrselassie is one of just two people to break the world twice on the course, and the only person to do it in back-to-back years.

From 2011-2014, a Kenyan trio absolutely dominated both the distance and the Berlin Marathon itself, as Patrick Makau ran 2:03:38 to be crowned champion in 2011. In 2013, Wilson Kipsang ran 2:03:23, before Dennis Kimetto ran an unprecedented 2:02:57 in 2014. 

In 2018, the G.O.A.T. became the first man to ever run quicker than 2:02, as Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge covered 26.2 miles in 2:01:39. Four years later in 2022, Kipchoge shaved off 30 seconds of his record, crossing in 2:01:09, the current No. 2 time in world history.

The most recent display of history came almost exactly a year ago when Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa threw down one of the greatest athletic feats in history, taking minutes off of the previous record as she ran 2:11:53.

To this day, Kenya’s contingent of marathon runners have seen the most record-breaking success in Berlin, with their men and women combining for seven world records on the storied course.

Ethiopia is the only other country with more than one record, totaling three since 2007.

Despite some of the heavy-hitters not lacing their shoes this weekend, the magic of Berlin is sure to be felt in its 50th running.