The upcoming London Marathon on April 26th promises an unprecedented clash of athletic excellence as four of the six fastest female marathon runners in history prepare for a historic confrontation. Reigning champion Tigst Assefa leads the stellar lineup, determined to replicate her record-shattering 2025 performance where she established a women-only world record of 2:15:50.
This year’s competition intensifies as Assefa faces her most formidable adversaries: Olympic gold medalist Sifan Hassan and world champion Peres Jepchirchir. The Ethiopian athlete enters the race with unfinished business, having suffered dramatic sprint-finish defeats against both competitors in recent global championships. Their rivalry has produced some of the most memorable moments in modern marathon history.
“My victory in last year’s London Marathon, coupled with setting the women-only world record, stands among the most significant achievements of my professional journey,” Assefa stated. “To accomplish this again, I must outperform exceptional champions like Peres and Sifan. They have consistently proven to be challenging opponents, and our encounters have created spectacular racing narratives. I aspire to emerge victorious this time.”
The women-only world record distinction applies to races conducted without male pacemakers or competitors. Assefa previously held the outright women’s world record after her spectacular 2:11:53 performance in Berlin during 2023. She currently ranks as the second-fastest female marathoner historically, though this status comes with complexity.
Ruth Chepngetich, who recorded the fastest women’s marathon time of 2:09:56 in Chicago 2024, received a three-year competitive ban after admitting to anti-doping violations following a positive test in March 2025. Notably, Chepngetich’s achievements preceding that sample remain officially recognized.
The competitive landscape has transformed dramatically since Paula Radcliffe’s longstanding record of 2:15:25 stood unchallenged until 2019. In the subsequent seven years, eight women have surpassed this benchmark, including Dutch sensation Hassan (2:13:44) and Kenyan standouts Joyciline Jepkosgei (2:14:00) and Jepchirchir (2:14:43), all competing in this edition.
Further enhancing the event’s appeal, Uruguay’s Julia Paternain joins the elite field. Raised in the United Kingdom, Paternain gained international attention for her astonished reaction to capturing an unexpected bronze medal at last year’s world championships.
The women’s elite announcement follows earlier revelations regarding British contenders, including Emile Cairess and Eilish McColgan. Meanwhile, the wheelchair competitions feature another historic narrative as Britain’s David Weir attempts to prevent Swiss legend Marcel Hug from matching his record eight London Marathon victories.