Ethiopia’s Guye Adola won the men’s BMW Berlin Marathon
Ethiopia’s Guye Adola reclaimed his spot atop the global marathon hierarchy with a brilliant, tactical victory at the 52nd Berlin Marathon on Sunday, September 27, 2026. Braving the fast, flat streets of Berlin under near-perfect racing conditions, the 35-year-old veteran crossed the finish line in a spectacular 2:02:50, asserting his dominance over a highly competitive elite field. His triumph marked his second major victory in the German capital, matching his breakout win from 2021, and secured a spectacular Ethiopian double alongside Tigst Assefa’s historic victory in the women’s division.
From the starting gun near the Tiergarten, the men’s elite race unfolded at a blistering, yet highly calculated tempo. Directed by an experienced pacemaking squad, the lead pack immediately made its intentions clear: to chase a sub-2:03 finishing time. A dense pack of top-tier talent, overwhelmingly driven by an aggressive Ethiopian contingent, established a relentless rhythm early, ticking off kilometers with metronomic precision.The leading group crossed the 10-kilometer mark swiftly and cruised through the half-marathon split at a blistering pace. At this juncture, a significant number of world-class athletes remained tightly bunched together, including standard podium threats, experienced veterans, and heavily decorated track stars making tactical transitions to the roads. The fast pace gradually began to string out the field as they turned into the second half of the course, transforming the race into a battle of pure attrition.
The true drama of the race ignited just after the 30-kilometer mark when the final pacemakers stepped off the course. As the rhythm briefly fluctuated, Adola launched a fierce, decisive surge that instantly fractured the leading pack. Only a select few could match the veteran’s sudden change of gears.
Ethiopia’s Gemechu Dida and Tanzania’s national star Gabriel Geay tried desperately to anchor themselves to Adola’s slipstream. For several kilometers, the leading competitors pushed the absolute limits of their stamina, exchanging quick glances as the tension mounted. However, as they approached the final critical stages of the race, Adola unleashed another punishing injection of speed. Shifting his stride, he quickly built a comfortable cushion, turning the final stretch of the race into a solo exhibition of power running.Adola maintained his flawless mechanics through the iconic Brandenburg Gate, raising his arms in triumph to cross the line in 2:02:50—just 45 seconds shy of his absolute personal best.
Behind the winner, the battle for the remaining podium steps came down to a thrilling exhibition of depth and endurance. Gemechu Dida showed immense resilience to secure second place for Ethiopia, crossing the line in a phenomenal 2:03:19. He was followed closely by Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay, who clinched a historic third spot on the podium in 2:03:59, finalizing an exceptional day for East African distance running.
Ethiopia’s Getaneh Molla delivered a strong, measured performance to capture fourth place in 2:04:55. He narrowly held off his compatriot, the highly decorated Olympic track champion Selemon Barega, who rounded out the top five with an impressive 2:04:58 in what was a heavily dominated Ethiopian leaderboard.
Final Standings at men’s Berlin Marathon
1. Guye Adola (ETH) – 2:02:50 hours
2. Gemechu Dida (ETH) – 2:03:19 hours
3. Gabriel Geay (TAN) – 2:03:59 hours
4. Getaneh Molla (ETH) – 2:04:55 hours
5. Selemon Barega (ETH) – 2:04:58 hours
6. Asefa Boki (ETH) – 2:05:32 hours
7. Andamlak Belihu (ETH) – 2:05:55 hours
8. Shura Kitata (ETH) – 2:06:04 hours
9. Yuhei Urano (JPN) – 2:06:09 hours
10. Tadu Abate (ETH) – 2:07:16 hours
Adola’s masterful race re-establishes him as one of the premier tactical marathoners of his generation. After navigating a series of challenging competitive seasons, his return to the pinnacle of World Marathon Majors racing marks a legendary chapter in his career. Combined with Assefa’s brilliant run earlier in the morning, the 2026 Berlin Marathon solidified Ethiopia’s total dominance on the roads, concluding a weekend that will be remembered for its blistering paces and spectacular competitive spirit.
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