Tigst Assefa hobbled to the finish line in victory in the closing moments of last month’s Berlin Marathon and was quickly helped from the course without taking a victory lap or standing atop the podium.
But on Friday in Germany, she was finally able to celebrate her 2:11:04 win as she was presented with her finisher medal by Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden as she continues to recover from Achilles surgery.
In a video Gulden posted on social media, Assefa was handed the medal in a ceremony far more modest than what she is used to, but the gesture closes a chapter on one of the most stunning sports performances of the year.
Assefa was on world record pace on the streets of London after opening a 25-second lead on Rosemary Wanjiru after just 5km with the chase group already out of contention. She continued to surge alongside her pacemakers and by the halfway point at 1:04:57, Assefa was almost three minutes past Wanjiru, who was joined by Dera Dida, Pascaline Jelagat, Alemitu Tariku, Bedatu Hirpa and Zeineba Yimer with the chase pack catching up.
But in a moment that was beamed all over the running universe, Assefa worked her way past the 40km mark and began to limp noticeably as her world record hopes faded and her pacer no longer shielded her.
She crossed the finish line in a commanding margin of over five minutes but immediately collapsed in pain and was helped away by racing legend Haile Gebrselassie.
Assefa was not interviewed by reporters during the broadcast and did not appear at the award ceremony where Hirpa and Dida received their medals while Adola celebrated his 2:02:50 win.
After being treated by the medical team onsite, Assefa was seen in a walking boot as she was taken to Munich for surgery the following day on September 28.
She assured fans that she was healing following a successful procedure and was grateful for the well wishes from all parts of the sport as her attention now turns toward a long road back to competition.
“I would like to send my warmest greetings to everyone,” Assefa said in a statement shared by Berlin Marathon organizer SCC Events. “My surgery went well. I am overwhelmed by the tremendous support I have received from all over the world. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank everyone for their incredible support and concern.”
Recovery time is typically six to twelve months after surgery for an Achilles tendon tear, and a partial tear requires four to six months of rehabilitation for daily activities and up to twelve months or a full return to high-intensity sports.
