On Sunday, Mestawut Fikir and Mulugeta Uma, two Ethiopian runners, made incredible breakthroughs at the Paris Marathon, winning the women’s and men’s divisions, respectively.
Before winning, Uma experienced a tense moment when he nearly collided with a race official close to the finish line. He kept cool and acknowledged the applauding crowd as he crossed the finish line, even after the scare. Uma took first place for 2 hours, 5 minutes, and 33 seconds, besting the Kenyan pairs of Titus Kipruto (2:05:48) and Elisha Rotich (2:06:54), who were the 2021 champions.
Fikir had fierce opposition in the women’s division, especially from fellow Ethiopian Enat Tirusew. But in the closing moments, Fikir overtook him and won in two hours, twenty minutes, and forty-five seconds, with Tirusew following closely behind at three seconds.
Notably, with 2 hours, 21 minutes, and 46 seconds, Kenya’s seasoned runner Vivian Cheruiyot—a distinguished athlete with many Olympic and world championship medals in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres—took third place. In the realm of long-distance running, the Paris Marathon will always be remembered for showcasing the remarkable talent and tenacity of these runners.
