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Who has won the Berlin Marathon 2025?
The streets of Berlin once again echoed with history on Sunday, 21 September 2025, as Kenya celebrated a double triumph at the 51st BMW Berlin Marathon. Sabastian Kimaru Sawe and Rosemary Monica Wanjiru emerged victorious in the men’s and women’s races respectively, overcoming humid conditions and a world-class field to cement their status among the sport’s elite.
The men’s race set off at a blistering pace, with Sawe passing the halfway mark in approximately 1:00:12 — a split that hinted at a possible world record challenge. However, after losing his final pacemaker around the 23 km point and contending with rising humidity, the 29-year-old adjusted his strategy. Despite fading slightly in the latter stages, he powered through the Brandenburg Gate to win in 2:02:16, his season’s best and one of the fastest times ever recorded under warm-weather conditions.
In the women’s race, Rosemary Wanjiru executed a tactically brilliant performance. The 30-year-old Kenyan, already a proven champion on the global stage, stayed in contention through the opening kilometers before making her decisive move after the 30 km mark. Though Ethiopia’s Dera Dida pushed her all the way, Wanjiru held her nerve and crossed the line in 2:21:05 — just three seconds clear. Azmera Gebru, also from Ethiopia, followed in third place.
The results ensured a Kenyan sweep at one of the most prestigious marathons in the world, reinforcing the nation’s dominance in long-distance running.
What is The Berlin Marathon?
The Berlin Marathon is renowned for its flat, fast 42.195 km course and its reputation as the birthplace of world records. Founded in 1974 with only 286 participants, the race has grown into one of the six World Marathon Majors, drawing tens of thousands of athletes each year.
The 2025 edition had originally been scheduled for 28 September, but due to Germany’s Bundestag elections, the organizers brought the event forward to 21 September. The start and finish line, as always, was on Straße des 17. Juni between the Brandenburg Gate and the “Kleiner Stern,” with runners passing Berlin’s iconic landmarks including the Reichstag, Victory Column, and Potsdamer Platz.
The day began with the elite wheelchair and handbike races at 8:50 a.m., followed by four waves of runners starting around 9:15 a.m. Conditions were warm and humid — a factor that shaped pacing strategies and forced athletes to dig deeper in the final kilometers.
Who is Sabastian Kimaru Sawe, Men’s Champion?
Profile
- Born: 16 March 1995 or 1996 (sources differ), Kenya
- Specialty: Long-distance road running, marathons and half-marathons
Career Achievements Before Berlin 2025
- Made marathon debut in Valencia (December 2024), winning on his first attempt.
- Won the 2025 London Marathon earlier this year, establishing himself as a rising force.
- Holds a half marathon best of 58:02, among the fastest in history.
- Gold medalist at the 2023 World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia.
Berlin 2025 Race
Sawe surged early, pushing world record pace until halfway. Losing his pacemaker at 23 km slowed his momentum, but he showed remarkable strength to secure victory in 2:02:16. The time was not only a season’s best but also his third marathon victory within a year, a feat that places him firmly among Kenya’s most formidable marathoners.
Who is Rosemary Monica Wanjiru, Women’s Champion?
Profile
- Born: 9 December 1994, Mombasa, Kenya
- Specialties: Track (5,000m, 10,000m) and road running (half marathons, marathons)
Career Highlights Before Berlin 2025
- Relocated to Japan as a teenager, where she competed in high school and corporate athletics.
- Won silver in the 5,000m at the 2015 African Games.
- Finished 4th in the 10,000m at the 2019 World Championships in Doha.
- Marathon debut in Berlin 2022: 2:18:00 (second fastest women’s debut at Berlin).
- Winner of the 2023 Tokyo Marathon in 2:16:28, among the fastest times in history.
Berlin 2025 Race
Wanjiru ran conservatively in the opening stages before launching her move at 30 km. Despite pressure from Ethiopia’s Dera Dida, she held on to win in 2:21:05. The victory adds to her growing reputation as one of the most tactically astute marathoners on the circuit.
Full Podium Results
Men
- Sabastian Sawe (Kenya) — 2:02:16
- Akira Akasaki (Japan)
- Chimdessa Debele (Ethiopia)
Women
- Rosemary Wanjiru (Kenya) — 2:21:05
- Dera Dida (Ethiopia) — +3 seconds
- Azmera Gebru (Ethiopia)
Records and Significance
Although Sawe’s blistering first half raised hopes of a world record, the mark of 2:00:35 set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023 remains intact. For the women, Wanjiru’s 2:21:05 was well outside the world record range, but underlined her ability to adapt to challenging weather.
Berlin continues to hold its reputation as a proving ground for the best. The 2025 edition demonstrated that even when conditions are less than ideal, tactical intelligence and mental resilience are the decisive factors.
Conclusion
The 2025 Berlin Marathon reaffirmed Kenya’s unmatched depth in distance running. Sawe, with three marathon wins in under a year, has emerged as one of the most dangerous men on the global stage. Wanjiru, with her second major marathon title, has consolidated her place among the world’s elite women.
Their double victory, achieved under humid skies and amid roaring crowds, is another shining moment in Kenya’s marathon history — and a reminder that Berlin remains the heartbeat of road-running excellence.
