Daijiworld Media Network – Tokyo

Tokyo, Sep 15: Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu made history on Monday, September 15, clinching the men’s marathon title at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo with the narrowest margin ever recorded at the event.

Simbu crossed the finish line in 2:09:48, edging out Germany’s Amanal Petros by just 0.03 seconds after a dramatic sprint inside the Japan National Stadium. The two runners shared the same official time, but a photo finish confirmed Simbu as the winner, earning Tanzania its first-ever World Championships gold medal in track and field.

“I made history today—the first Tanzanian gold medal at a world championships,” said an elated Simbu, who previously claimed bronze at the 2017 London Worlds and finished second at the 2025 Boston Marathon. “I told myself I was not going to give up. Just look at the finish and the kick.”

Petros, draped in the finishing tape after collapsing on the track, graciously accepted silver. “Coming into the finish, I was thinking about winning, so a bit of me is sad,” he admitted. “But you have to learn for tomorrow, train hard and be thankful for the silver.”
Italy’s Iliass Aouani secured bronze in 2:09:53, followed by Israel’s Haimro Alame (2:10:03) and Uganda’s Abel Chelangat (2:10:11).

The grueling 42.195 km race unfolded in humid 27°C conditions, with a tightly packed lead group staying together until the 30 km mark. Home favorite Kondo Ryota finished 11th after dropping off near 39 km, while the Tokyo crowd roared as the leaders powered into the stadium for a dramatic finale.