The legendary Ethiopian athlete Kenenisa Bekele will return to the streets of Berlin to take part in his marathon, where he won in 2016 with 2:03:03 and again prevailed in 2019 with 2:01:41, just two seconds off the world record at the time. The event is scheduled for next Sunday, September 27.
Bekele, one of the most accomplished athletes in history, boasts three Olympic golds and 11 world cross-country titles. In 2024 he finished second in London with 2:04:15, a time that set a masters world record.
The organizers have also confirmed the additions of Alisa Vainio, the European marathon champion in Birmingham with a championships record (2:22:26), who will run her seventh marathon in 12 months, and the German Laura Hottenrott.