Ethiopian victories at the 2026 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON – the new BMW i3 makes its ‘racing debut’.

+++ Tigst Assefa (ETH) sets a women’s course record (2:11:04 hours) at Germany’s biggest marathon +++ Second Berlin triumph for Guye Adola (ETH, 2:02:50) in the men’s race +++ The new all-electric BMW i3 makes its debut as lead vehicle +++ 84,000 runners set a new participation record +++ 350 BMW Group employees complete the 42.195 kilometres +++

Berlin. In ideal weather conditions, it looked as though the 15th edition of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON with title partner BMW would see a world record set for the seventh time, right up until shortly before the end of the women’s race. At the 40-kilometre mark, Tigst Assefa was still well on course for a world record, before the Ethiopian began to struggle with muscle problems. Visibly in pain, the 29-year-old lost a minute and a half on her way to the finish line, but still set a course record (2:11:04 hours) and celebrated her third victory at the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, following her wins in 2022 and 2023. Bedatu Hirpa (2:16:53) and Dera Dida (2:16:55) completed the hat-trick for Ethiopia. In the men’s race, too, the numerous Ethiopian fans lining the home straight had cause to cheer, as Guye Adola won in a personal best of 2:02:50 hours, well ahead of Gemechu Dida Diriba (ETH, 2:03:19) and Gabriel Gerald Geay (TAN, 2:03:59). For the 35-year-old, it was his second victory in Berlin following his win in 2021. The fastest German runners were Haftom Welday (2:08:25, 16th place) and Anna Langerwisch (2:27:31, personal best, 16th place).

“On behalf of BMW, I would like to warmly congratulate Tigst Assefa and Guye Adola on their impressive victories at the BMW BERLIN MARATHON. Our congratulations also go to all participants on their individual achievements,” said Tim Beltermann, Head of BMW Germany. “We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who, once again, has turned the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON into such a diverse international sporting event; the organising team at SCC EVENTS, the 5,700 volunteers and the fans lining the route, whose enthusiasm contributes so much to the atmosphere of this event.”

At the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, one of the world’s seven most prestigious marathons – the World Marathon Majors – there was another endurance specialist on the course: the new BMW i3, as the lead vehicle for the men’s race. The first all-electric BMW 3 Series is the second model in the Neue Klasse and represents a technological quantum leap into a new era. With an all-electric range of up to 906 kilometres*, the new BMW i3 could complete all World Marathon Majors in a two-and-a-half-year period without the need to recharge.

Alongside the new BMW i3, the all-electric BMW iX3, BMW iX, BMW i5 and BMW i4 models also took to the course at the BMW BERLIN MARATHON as organisational vehicles, whilst 350 BMW Group employees from around the world completed the marathon. In total, more than 84,000 people from 162 nations took part in the various sporting events over the weekend – both figures are records and underline the character of the BMW BERLIN MARATHON as an international sporting event that brings people together. This international focus also characterises the BMW Group as a company where employees from over 110 nations work together worldwide within a global organisation.