BERLIN, 28 September, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Berlin Marathon winner Tigst Assefa underwent surgery in Munich on Monday after completing Sunday’s race with a complete rupture of her Achilles tendon, her manager Gianni Demadonna confirmed. The 29-year-old Ethiopian was on course to challenge the women’s marathon world record until around the 35-kilometre mark, when she began slowing and showed clear signs of a leg injury. Despite severe pain, Assefa limped across the finish line and collapsed after recording a time of 2:11:04, the third-fastest marathon time ever achieved by a woman. Demadonna said Assefa began experiencing pain after 31 kilometres, which intensified during the final stages of the race, with the tendon eventually rupturing completely during the last two kilometres. She was flown to Bavaria by private jet and underwent surgery at a specialised clinic for sports and tendon injuries in Munich. Demadonna said Assefa is expected to be sidelined for around seven months but could potentially return for the London Marathon in April 2027. He said the athlete was receiving specialised treatment and expressed hope for a successful recovery. Assefa, a three-time Berlin Marathon winner, switched from road racing to marathon running following an Achilles injury in 2016.