Tigst Assefa Undergoes Surgery After Berlin Marathon Collapse — image accompanying Canadian Running's report. Image accompanying Canadian Running’s report; reduced and presented for news commentary with the attributed report. View the complete source report.
Ethiopian marathon star Tigst Assefa underwent surgery for a torn Achilles tendon after collapsing at the Berlin Marathon finish line. She was flown to Munich for the procedure. Recovery is expected to sideline her for seven months.
Assefa, who broke her own course record, felt pain in her right foot around 31 km. She continued despite the injury, recording the third-fastest women’s marathon time ever. Her manager described her as running on one leg. Read more racing coverage.
Assefa’s manager expects her to return to competition in April 2027. Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie, who also suffered an Achilles injury, helped Assefa off the course. Assefa aimed to beat the world record but fell short due to her injury. Related: Tigst Assefa Undergoes Surgery for Achilles Tendon Rupture.
This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Canadian Running. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.
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What should runners know about Tigst Assefa Undergoes Surgery After Berlin Marathon Collapse?
Ethiopian marathon star Tigst Assefa had surgery for a torn Achilles tendon. Ethiopian marathon star Tigst Assefa underwent surgery for a torn Achilles tendon after collapsing at the Berlin Marathon finish line. She was flown to Munich for the procedure. Recovery is expected to sideline her for seven months.
When did Runner World publish this racing brief?
Runner World published this brief on September 28, 2026. The underlying Canadian Running report was dated September 28, 2026.
Where can readers find the complete original report?
This summary is based on reporting from Canadian Running. The attributed source link in the article leads to the publisher’s complete report.
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