Tokyo: In a dramatic display of endurance and strategy, Tanzania’s Alphonce Felix Simbu captured marathon gold at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, edging out Germany’s Amanal Petros by the slimmest of margins. Both men clocked 2:09:48, but the photo finish confirmed Simbu’s decisive lean across the line, making it one of the most unforgettable marathon conclusions in championship history.
The spectacle came down to the final lap inside Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium. Petros, believed to have timed his sprint perfectly, surged ahead with meters remaining. Yet Simbu, known for his disciplined pacing and iron will, unleashed a late kick that stunned the German. The Tanzanian’s surge past the tape etched his name in the record books as a world champion for the very first time.
Italy’s Iliass Aouani secured bronze with a strong run, finishing just five seconds adrift in 2:09:53. His effort rounded off a podium that symbolized the global diversity of marathon running, with Africa, Europe, and the Mediterranean all represented in the medals.
This finish will be remembered as the closest in the men’s marathon history at the World Championships, surpassing even the legendary Edmonton 2001 showdown where Ethiopia’s Gezahegne Abera edged Kenya’s Simon Biwott by a single second. The Tokyo finale demonstrated once again that marathon running, despite its grueling length, can hinge on fractions of a second.
The race was not without drama before its closing act. Kenya’s Vincent Ngetich triggered a false start, briefly unsettling the field before officials reset the competition. Later, Ethiopia’s pre-race favorites, Tadese Takele and Deresa Geleta winners and runners-up at the Tokyo City Marathon fell out of contention with less than 10 kilometers remaining, leaving the path open for new names to define the day.
For Simbu, the gold represents a career-defining moment. He had previously claimed bronze at the 2017 World Championships in London and finished runner-up at the Boston Marathon earlier this year. Now, with a world title to his name, Simbu has cemented his place among the greats of East African distance running.
Petros, despite the heartbreak of silver, will leave Tokyo with immense pride. His performance demonstrated Germany’s rising stature in long-distance running and ensured that the fight for global marathon supremacy is no longer confined to traditional African powerhouses.
The 2025 Tokyo marathon final will be remembered not only for its blistering closing meters but also for its lesson in resilience, timing, and belief a reminder that in sport, history is written in the smallest of margins.