Berlin Marathon 2024: Ethiopia emerges as absolute master!

The Ethiopians left Berlin with their arms full of resounding victories, confirming once again their supremacy in long-distance running. The 50th Berlin Marathon was marked by a veritable Ethiopian raid, with historic performances by both men and women.

A new shine for Ethiopia

In a city where world records fall like autumn leaves, Ethiopia showed that it knows how to make Berlin its garden. This year's marathon was no exception. While all eyes were on potential world records, it was ultimately Ethiopian Milkesa Mengesha who took first place in the men's race. With a time of 2h03m17s , he put in an impressive performance, although far from Eliud Kipchoge's stratospheric record.

Mengesha , relatively unknown before this marathon, took advantage of the absence of the usual stars to steal the show. His victory not only marks a milestone in his career, but also demonstrates the endless potential that Ethiopia has in distance running. His ease in outwitting the competition has given this marathon a new dimension.

Total domination among women

But where the men shone, the Ethiopian women absolutely crushed the competition. Tigist Ketema , with a time of 2h16m42s , dominated the women's race, leaving her competitors far behind. The women's podium was also exclusively tinted in the colors of Ethiopia, a rare and impressive situation. Tigist Ketema, alongside her compatriots, showed that Ethiopian women are also queens of the discipline.

This unchallenged dominance is not new, but the year 2024 has indeed consolidated Ethiopian hegemony on the marathon scene. The Berlin Marathon, traditionally favourable to the quest for records, did not break new marks this time, but the performances of the runners remain no less remarkable.

And Kipchoge in all this?

It’s hard to talk about the Berlin Marathon without mentioning Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge . However, this year, the global marathon icon did not take part in the race, leaving a void that the Ethiopians quickly filled. Kipchoge’s absence obviously changed the dynamics of the competition, but Mengesha’s victory was no less deserved.

While some observers regret the absence of the Kenyan, this 2024 edition will above all have allowed new talents to emerge, a sign that the next generation of athletes is ready to take over.

Ethiopia: the inexhaustible source of champions

Ethiopia continues to fill the podiums of international marathons with impressive regularity. In this country where running is more than a sport, but a culture, the younger generations are trained from a young age to master the art of long-distance running. The altitude of the Ethiopian plateaus and a deeply rooted tradition of physical effort contribute to this hegemony over long distances.

Ethiopian marathoners aren’t just high-flyers; they’re everywhere. Whether in Berlin, London, Tokyo or even New York, Ethiopian names have become inescapable. Milkesa Mengesha and Tigist Ketema are just the latest in a long line of champions who continue to write modern marathon history.

What challenges for the future?

The Ethiopians' performance in Berlin obviously raises questions: how long can they dominate the world stage? With the Ugandan runners gaining momentum and the Kenyans continuing to perform solidly, the competition is getting tougher. But for now, the Ethiopians are reigning supreme, and their dominance seems far from waning.

The other nations will have to redouble their efforts to catch up, but faced with such mastery, it is difficult to predict a reversal of the trend in the near future. What is certain is that the competition is intensifying, and that the next meeting will be even more exciting.