London Marathon 2026: Tigst Assefa targets another win against rivals Sifan Hassan and Peres Jepchirchir

The women-only world record applies to races that take place without male pacemakers or competitors.

Assefa previously held the outright women’s world record after running 2:11:53 in Berlin in 2023.

She remains the second-fastest female marathon runner in history, behind Ruth Chepngetich, who was banned from the sport for three years after the Kenyan admitted to anti-doping rule violations following a positive test in March last year.

Chepngetich’s achievements that pre-date that sample, including her world record time of 2:09:56 in Chicago in 2024, still stand.

While no female athlete in history had run below Paula Radcliffe’s long-standing record of 2:15:25 until 2019, eight have surpassed that mark in the past seven years – including Assefa, Dutch star Hassan (2:13:44) and Kenyans Jepkosgei (2:14:00) and Jepchirchir (2:14:43).

Also confirmed for this year’s London Marathon is Uruguay’s Julia Paternain, who was raised in the UK and made headlines for her stunned reaction to completing the world podium with an unexpected bronze last year.

The unveiling of the elite women’s line-up at the London Marathon follows the announcement of the elite British entries, which include Emile Cairess and Eilish McColgan.

In the elite wheelchair events, Great Britain’s David Weir will seek to stop Swiss great Marcel Hug equalling his record eight wins.