BMW Berlin Marathon: Kenenisa Bekele returns to Berlin, Alisa Vainio added to elite field

Berlin Marathon – Kenenisa Bekele will run the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON on 27 September. This was announced by the race organisers today. It will be the first race this year for the legendary Ethiopian athlete. At the age of 44, Bekele will hardly be a contender for victory; however, a very strong performance is possible. 

Bekele won the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON twice during his unique career, missing the world record by just a few seconds on both occasions. In 2016 he crossed the line in 2:03:03 and in 2019 he clocked 2:01:41. Had he been just two seconds faster seven years ago, he would have become the first runner in sporting history to hold the world records for 5,000 m, 10,000 m and the marathon simultaneously.

With Bekele, perhaps the greatest runner of all time is returning once more to the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. At least when it comes to track events and cross-country running, he is the number one. Kenenisa Bekele held the world records for the 5,000 m (12:37.35) and 10,000 m (26:17.53) longer than any other runner in history – for around 15 years. Bekele won gold in the 5,000 m at the 2008 Olympic Games and the 2009 World Championships, and in the 10,000 m at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games as well as at the 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009 World Championships. He has won eleven gold medals at the World Cross Country Championships.

Two and a half years ago, at the age of 41, he almost pulled off a sensational feat. He was in the lead in the closing stages of the prestigious London Marathon. In the end, he finished second, setting the Masters world record (for the 40+ age group) of 2:04:15 – a record that still stands today – and was subsequently selected for the Olympic Games. However, in Paris in the summer of 2024, he only managed 39th place. For the first time since the Games, he could cross the finish line of a marathon again in Berlin on 27 September.

European Champion Alisa Vainio added to start list

There is a strong last-minute addition to the women’s elite field as well. European Marathon Champion Alisa Vainio will run the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. A month ago the Finnish runner took the European Championships’ gold medal in Birmingham in commanding style and clocked a championships’ record time of 2:22:26. A year ago, she was the best European runner at the World Championships in Tokyo with fifth place and then went on to set three consecutive Finnish national records. In February, she improved to 2:20:39 when she won in Seville. She is now the fastest Scandinavian marathon runner in history, breaking the record of former world record-holder Ingrid Kristiansen (Norway/2:21:06).

Fastest Runners on the Start List

Men

Women