Simbu Wins Historic Marathon Gold in Dramatic Photo Finish

Tanzania celebrates its first-ever world title as Felix Simbu edges Amanal Petros by just hundredths of a second

Felix Simbu delivered Tanzania its first world championship gold medal in a marathon decided by the narrowest margin in history. He edged Germany’s Amanal Petros in a dramatic photo finish on Monday, with both athletes clocking 2:09:48.

Closer Than a Sprint Final

The race was settled by just three hundredths of a second, even closer than the men’s 100m final the previous day. Italian runner Iliass Aouani secured bronze with a time of 2:09:53, just behind the leading duo.

Simbu’s Reaction

“When we entered the stadium, I was not sure if I would win,” Simbu admitted. “But when I saw my name on the video screens, I felt relieved. I made history today  the first Tanzanian gold medal at a world championships.”

Comparisons to Past Races

The finish surpassed previous close calls in marathon history. In 2001, Ethiopia’s Gezahegne Abera beat Kenya’s Simon Biwott by one second, while South Africa’s Josia Thugwane won the 1996 Olympic marathon by three seconds.

Career Milestone for Simbu

For Simbu, the gold medal capped years of persistence. He had previously won bronze at the 2017 World Championships in London and finished runner-up at the Boston Marathon in April. This was his first-ever global title.

A Response for East Africa

Simbu’s victory restored East African pride less than 24 hours after Frenchman Jimmy Gressier broke a 40-year streak by winning the men’s 10,000m title  an event long dominated by runners from the region.

Drama Before the Start

The marathon began with unusual drama when Kenya’s Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich false-started, forcing a restart  a rare sight in endurance racing. The early pace saw a large pack before attrition thinned the field.

Surprises Along the Way

Two Ethiopian favorites, Tadese Takele and Deresa Geleta, who had dominated the Tokyo City Marathon earlier this year, fell behind with less than 10km remaining. Their exits opened the door for Simbu, Petros, and Aouani to battle for the podium.

Petros Falls Just Short

Petros, born in Eritrea but running for Germany, looked set for gold until Simbu’s late surge overtook him at the line. “Coming into the finish I was thinking about winning, so a bit of me feels very sad,” Petros admitted. “But I have to accept it and keep going.”

Women’s 400m Hurdles Heats

In other events, defending champion Femke Bol of the Netherlands eased through the 400m hurdles heats with a time of 53.75 seconds. Rio 2016 gold medalist Dalilah Muhammad also advanced, while Canadian prospect Savannah Sutherland was eliminated.

Pole Vault Disruption

Women’s pole vault qualifying was briefly delayed due to technical issues. Katie Moon of the United States, a co-champion in 2023, led 13 athletes into the final. Britain’s Molly Caudery withdrew after injuring her ankle during warm-up.

Hammer Throw Highlights

Canadian Olympic and world champion Ethan Katzberg produced the standout effort in men’s hammer qualifying with a throw of 81.85m, the only attempt beyond 80 metres. He heads into the final as the clear favorite.

Steeplechase Heats

In the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai of Uganda clocked the fastest time at 9:07.68. World champion Winfred Yavi of Bahrain and Kenya’s Faith Cherotich also advanced comfortably to the next round.

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