@chrisolympians: Ethiopia’s Guye Adola has produced a perfectly judged performance to win the 2026 BMW Berlin Marathon, returning to the streets where his marathon career began to claim his second Berlin title in a sensational 2:02:50. The 35-year-old Ethiopian controlled the race brilliantly before making his decisive move in the closing stages, crossing the finish line clear of compatriot Gemechu Dida Diriba, who finished second in 2:03:19. Adola’s winning margin was 29 seconds, underlining just how strongly he finished. The victory adds another memorable chapter to Adola’s long association with Berlin. He first won the prestigious race in 2021, and five years later he returned to the German capital to produce the fastest marathon of his career. Adola arrived in Berlin in excellent form after winning the Rotterdam Marathon in April in 2:03:54. That performance had placed him just eight seconds outside the personal best of 2:03:46 he had carried since his remarkable marathon debut in Berlin in 2017. That debut remains one of the most memorable first appearances over the marathon distance. Adola stayed ahead of Eliud Kipchoge deep into the race before the Kenyan eventually overtook him. Adola finished second in 2:03:46, just 14 seconds behind Kipchoge, producing the fastest marathon debut at the time. For years, that performance remained the benchmark of his career. Even when Adola returned to Berlin in 2021 and won the race, he could not improve his debut mark. His breakthrough finally came in Rotterdam this April, when he clocked 2:03:54 — a sign that another major performance could be approaching. On Sunday, he delivered it. With world record holder Sabastian Sawe and legendary Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele both missing the race through injury, the men’s contest was wide open. The pacemakers were set up for an attempt at Eliud Kipchoge’s 2:01:09 course record, but the leading group reached halfway in 1:01:01, already outside record pace. The race gradually began to break apart as the kilometres passed. By 30 kilometres, three Ethiopians had established themselves at the front — Adola, Olympic 10,000m champion Selemon Barega and Gemechu Dida. Then came the decisive move. After 35 kilometres, Adola increased the pace and began creating daylight between himself and the chasing group. Nobody could respond as the experienced Ethiopian steadily extended his advantage. This time, there would be no late comeback. Adola remained composed through the final kilometres before powering toward the finish in 2:02:50, taking an extraordinary 56 seconds off his previous personal best. Gemechu Dida followed in 2:03:19 to secure an Ethiopian one-two, while Tanzania’s Gabriel Gerald Geay, the fastest athlete on the start list with a 2:03:00 personal best, completed the podium in 2:03:59. Although Kipchoge’s course record survived for another year, Adola had achieved something equally significant for his own career — he had transformed his long-standing Berlin story into a new chapter. From finishing second to Kipchoge on his marathon debut in 2017, to winning the race in 2021, and now returning five years later to run 2:02:50, Adola has repeatedly found his best moments on the streets of Berlin. At 35, the Ethiopian has shown that experience, patience and perfectly timed aggression can still produce extraordinary results at the highest level of marathon running. Top 10 — 2026 Berlin Marathon Men’s Results 1. Guye Adola (Ethiopia) — 2:02:50 2. Gemechu Dida Diriba (Ethiopia) — 2:03:19 3. Gabriel Gerald Geay (Tanzania) — 2:03:59 4. Getaneh Molla (Ethiopia) — 2:04:55 5. Selemon Barega (Ethiopia) — 2:04:58 6. Asefa Boki (Ethiopia) — 2:05:32 7. Andamlak Belihu (Ethiopia) — 2:05:55 8. Shura Kitata (Ethiopia) — 2:06:04 9. Yuhei Urano (Japan) — 2:06:09 10. Tadu Abate (Ethiopia) — 2:07:16 For Guye Adola, this was more than another marathon victory. Berlin is where his marathon story began, where he once pushed Kipchoge to the limit #berlinmarathon #eliudkipchoge #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #guyaadola #fy

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Monday 28 September 2026 17:44:28 GMT