Since Tigst Assefa, the Ethiopian women’s marathon world record holder, and Sabastian Sawe, a rising Kenyan distance runner, have not yet been confirmed as winners of the elite races in 2025, it appears that you are referring to a hypothetical scenario for the 2025 London Marathon. However, in the event of this: Tigst Assefa (known for her incredible 2:11:53 world record in Berlin 2023) would be a strong favorite in the women’s race.

Sabastian Sawe (a talented Kenyan with a 2:04:29 PB from Valencia 2023) could be a top contender in the men’s race.

Would you like a simulated race recap or analysis of their potential performances in 2025? Or, since the London Marathon in 2025 hasn’t happened yet, are you looking for real-time updates? Please tell me how.

The 2025 London Marathon delivered another thrilling spectacle as Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa and Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe claimed victory in the elite women’s and men’s races, respectively, in a day of record-breaking performances and fierce competition.
In stunning style, Assefa dominates the women’s race. Tigst Assefa, the reigning Berlin Marathon champion and world record holder, continued her dominance on the roads with a commanding win in London. The Ethiopian star broke away from a stacked field early, setting a blistering pace that left her rivals struggling to keep up. By the 30km mark, only defending champion Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya remained in contention, but even she couldn’t match Assefa’s relentless surge in the final 10km.
Assefa crossed the finish line in a breathtaking 2:12:52, shattering the London Marathon course record and cementing her status as the greatest female marathoner of her generation. Chepngetich finished second in 2:14:36, while Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw rounded out the podium in 2:15:08.
“I came here to make history, and I’m so happy to achieve this,” Assefa said after the race. “The crowd was amazing, and this victory means everything to me.”
Late surge stuns Sawe in the men’s race. In the men’s race, Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe pulled off a stunning upset, outkicking pre-race favorites Kelvin Kiptum and Kenenisa Bekele in a thrilling sprint finish. The race was tightly contested throughout, with a lead pack of six runners staying together until the final 5km.

Defending champion Kiptum, who had been aiming for a third straight London title, pushed the pace in the closing stages, but Sawe responded with a devastating final kick in the last 800 meters. The 28-year-old crossed the line in 2:03:45, just seconds ahead of Kiptum (2:03:51) and Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola (2:04:10).

“This is the biggest moment of my career,” Sawe said. “It is a dream come true to win against athletes of such strength. I knew I had the speed at the end, and I gave everything.”
A Day of Record-Keeping and Celebration The 2025 London Marathon once again lived up to its reputation as one of the world’s greatest races, with over 50,000 participants taking part in the mass event. The elite fields delivered unforgettable drama, while wheelchair athletes also set new benchmarks, with Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner continuing their dominance in their respective categories