Tigst Assefa had surgery to repair a complete Achilles rupture, confirmed by her manager. The operation followed her Berlin Marathon win, where she ran on an injured tendon. She traveled to Bavaria for treatment by Dr. Johannes Gabel, a renowned foot and ankle surgeon.

Assefa's manager, Gianni Demadonna, stated the surgery went as planned. The timeline for her return to racing is uncertain, with initial estimates suggesting six months. She will avoid walking for two months, then gradually resume cycling and running. Read more culture coverage.

Assefa felt pain around 31 kilometers into the marathon, with the injury becoming acute near 40 kilometers. Despite the pain, she maintained world record pace until the final kilometers, where her stride shortened and she limped to the finish line. Related: Tokyo Marathon Champion Ruti Aga Suspended Over Anti-Doping Violation.

This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Marathon Handbook. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.