Dera Dida, Lelisa Desisa and former world record holder Dennis Kimetto are among those taking part in the event on Sunday in January.
If there is a First Family in athletics, it is the Tola-Dida clan from Ethiopia. and one of their favorite canals is the Dubai Marathon, whose quarter-century is being celebrated with Sunday morning’s event.
Reigning men’s Olympic champion Tamirat Tola won in Dubai in 2017 (2:04:11) and husband Dera Dida won in 2023 (2:21:11), the same day her brother Tamirat’s younger brother Abdisa won the men’s title (2:05:42).
Tamirat went on to bigger things with a world championship silver medal in London in 2017, then a gold medal at the postponed world championships in Eugene in 2022, a New York marathon victory in 2023 and an Olympic crown last year and take care of their daughter.
Because bringing their daughter (even with a nanny) to last year’s Dubai race may have derailed Dera from a repeat win, although she still finished third in 2:19:29, two minutes faster than last year; but she has left her husband to do the housework this time and is determined to win her second Dubai Marathon while Tamirat watches TV at home on the outskirts of the capital, Addis Ababa.
As befits the First Family, only the best is good enough and their training group must be one of, if not the strongest in the world.His running partners include former marathon world record holder and Olympic silver medalist Tigist Assefa, as well as reigning marathon world champion Amane. Berrison.
“I don’t train with the group every day,” he said through a translator. “I train with Tamirat every day, but sometimes I join them. Since Tamirat won the Olympics, we’ve had a lot more interest from the media, but we’re trying.” focus on our run and not get too distracted.”
Well, his rivals (and compatriots) here in Dubai, Tigist Girma and Zeinber Yimmer, already have plenty to distract him, given that their respective best times of 2:18:52 and 2:19:07 are better than his (2: 19:24), but not enough to hold him back partner, Tigist Ketema, last year.) I hope that will be enough to win.”
Lelisa Desisa (Dubai Marathon)
Another comeback winner has equally high aspirations, although injuries have left a wide gap between Lelisa Desisa’s glory days and Sunday’s race.Lelisa was one of many debutant winners in Dubai over the past decade, but she won perhaps the most exciting race in the history of the Dubai Marathon During a foggy day, Lelisa emerged from the fog, Sprinting in 2:04:45, he outpaced four close pursuers, all of whom finished within seconds, the first time five men had ever come in. for a two-hour, five-minute marathon.
Like Tamirat, Lelisa had a great streak, with two wins and two second places in Boston and a win in New York, culminating in a world title on a dreadful night in Doha 2019. A string of injuries and the pandemic halted her progress, but she claims she’s back to the best level.
After the press conference held on Friday, he said. “I trained with Milkesa (Mengesha), who won the Berlin marathon last year, and Deresa (Geletta), who was second in Valencia. I think I’m just as good, and they run 2:02-2:03 Things have changed a lot since we won here in 2018. At the time, we were thinking 2:04 to 2:07 for the marathon, now we have to think about two hours. I think I can set a personal best on Sunday.”
With his best remaining at 2:04:45 from 2013, if he and his younger rivals can achieve that, they will threaten the 2:03:34 record that another colleague Getaneh Mollah ran here in 2019.
Denise Kimetto (Victa Seiler)
An interesting contender is former world record holder Dennis Kimetto, one of the newest stars in marathon history. setting the event, and setting a world record in the final in 2014. In Berlin, he was the first to run sub-2:03 (2:02:57) and his record stood for four years. Clearly, 10 days short of his 41st birthday, Dubai 2025 will be a very different challenge for Kimetto.
Making his Dubai debut this year is British Paralympian Richard Whitehead, the marathon world record holder for bilateral knee amputees who ran the 2024 Chicago Marathon in October in a record time of 2:41:36.
A multiple gold medalist at London 2012 and Rio 2016, Whitehead has also won four world titles and is looking forward to her first attempt at the Dubai Marathon all abilities,” he said. “I think running as an athlete with a disability gives people a chance to see that everything it’s possible if you believe in yourself.”
Live streaming of the Dubai Marathon will be available from 6am local time (2am UK) on Sunday at: dubaimarathon.org
Elite runners with personal bests
Men
Dennis Kimetto KEN 2:02:57
Lelisa Desisa ETH 2:04:45
Dino Sephir ETH 2:04:50
Shifera Tamru ETH 2:05:18
Gebru Redahgne ETH 2:05:58
Ashenafi Moges ETH 2:06:1
Abay Alemu ETH 2:06:50
Mesfin Day ETH 2:07:5
Tadele Demise ETH 2:08:25
Desalegn Growth ETH 2:08:30
Berehanu Tsegu ETH Debut
Boky Diriba – Boky Diriba the best
Women
Tigist Girma ETH 2:18:52
Zeineba Yimmer ETH 2:19:07
There’s no place like home ETH 2:19:2
Etagegne Woldu ETH 2:20:03
Gadise Moula ETH 2:20:59
Bedatu Hirpa ETH 2:21:0
Beyenu Support ETH 2:23:0
Falling Tahir Daddison ETH 2:23:1
Tigist Geshaw ETH 2:24:39
Kebebush Yisma ETH 2:27:46
Mulugojam Ambi ETH 2:28:59
Debut Welde ETH
Etenesh Diro ETH Debut
Bekelech Teku ETH Debut
Alem Tsadik ETH Debut
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