Tanzanian runner Alphone Simbu came from behind to beat Germany’s Amanal Petros by the slimmest of margins in the closest marathon finish in world championship history, requiring a finish line photo to determine the overall winner. 

Only when the official results flashed on the scoreboard did Simbu know he had won.

Simbu just squeezed past Amanal Petros of Germany at the line to win the 2025 title in 2:09:48. Petros, who looked to have a slight edge with 50 metres to go, was given the same time for his silver medal performance. Illiass Aouani of Italy, who entered the stadium with Simbu and Petros for the final 350 metres, took the bronze medal in 2:09:53.

The race with the most dramatic finish in world championship marathon history also got off to an odd non-start, when Vincent Ngetich of Kenya false-started and the field was called back within the first 100 metres. On the second attempt, the race started without incident, with the eager Ngetich leading the 87 other starters out of the stadium. (He finished 22nd in 2:13:28 after doing a lot of the early leading.)

At around the 14-kilometre mark, the big names moved to the front. Soon after, Young was clipped from behind and went down. He got up quickly and easily rejoined the lead pack while giving a thumbs up to the nearby cameraperson. The top 50 men were within 10 seconds of each other through 15km, with defending champion Victor Kiplangat of Uganda leading the pack. The pack stayed huge through halfway (1:05:19), with 34 men within 2 seconds of each other. The steady 2:10 marathon pace continued to whittle the pack, which was down to 19 at 30km.

The only significant casualty during that time was Tadese Takele of Ethiopia, whose winning time of 2:03:23 at the Tokyo Marathon in March made him the fastest this year in the field. Takele stepped off the course in the 34th kilometre, as Kiplangat set the agenda for what was down to a 15-man pack.

The weather remained brutal (81 degrees, 71 per cent humidity) as the leaders reached 35km in 1:47:47, a slight increase in pace. How brutal? A minute later, Deresa Geleta of Ethiopia, the seventh fastest marathoner in history, came to a complete stop. In all, 22 of the 88 starters dropped out.

Just before the two-hour mark, defending champion Kiplangat lost contact. Instead, it was his teammate, the improbable and implacable Abel Chelangat, at the front of the pack. The largely unknown 2:08 marathoner looked ready to take over Kiplangat’s mantle and was still fronting the now five-man pack with one kilometre to go.

But bad things can happen quickly in the final mile of a marathon, especially hot, humid ones. Chelangat suddenly lost contact in the next 400 metres, and the three medals seemed decided. But who would get which?

Simbu moved to the front with 600 metres to go, but then almost missed the left turn into the tunnel that would spill the men out onto the track. It was Petros who led as they entered the final 350 metres. Simbu collected himself and latched on; Aouani was starting to lose touch, approaching 200 metres to go.

Petros entered the final straightaway in the lead. Simbu challenged him once, which spurred the German to accelerate. He seemed to be pulling away, but couldn’t sustain his drive. Simbu closed, closed, and closed again until both men threw themselves at the tape. Only when the official results flashed on the scoreboard did Simbu know he had won.

World Athletics Championships – Men’s Marathon Top 10

1. Alphonce Felix Simbu (Tanzania), 2:09:48
2. Amanal Petros (Germany), 2:09:48
3. Iliass Aouani (Italy), 2:09:53
4. Haimro Alame (Israel), 2:10:03
5. Abel Chelangat (Uganda), 2:10:11
6. Yohanes Chiappinelli (Italy), 2:10:15
7. Gashau Ayale (Israel), 2:10:27
8. Samsom Amare (Eritrea), 2:10:34
9. Clayton Young (United States), 2:10:43
10. Isaac Mpofu (Zimbabwe), 2:10:46

READ MORE ON: marathon World Athletics Champs