The world-class marathon runner Sebastian Sawe will be competing in the 51st BMW BERLIN MARATHON in 2025.

Sebastian Sawe, currently considered the best marathon runner in the world, has made his decision: In only his third marathon, the 29-year-old Kenyan will run through the streets of the German capital on September 21, 2025, in the 51st BMW BERLIN MARATHON.

An exciting race is guaranteed

Mark Milde, Race Director of the BMW BERLIN MARATHON, said: „We are delighted that Sabastian Sawe appreciates the BMW BERLIN MARATHON and its route. He impressively demonstrated how well he suits the capital’s asphalt with his victory in the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON in 2023. One thing is certain: the race will be very exciting!”

Sawe ran his personal best time of 2:02:05 hours in his marathon debut in Valencia in 2024 and won in London in April 2025 in 2:02:27 hours.

Strong competition among the men

Milkesa Mengesha returns to the race where he celebrated the most difficult victory of his career to date. The 25-year-old Ethiopian won the 50th BMW BERLIN MARATHON a year ago with his current best time of 2:03:17 hours. He improved his time by more than two minutes.

Gabriel Geay, Tanzania’s marathon record holder, is coming to Berlin. The 28-year-old finished second in Valencia three years ago with a time of 2:03:00. After a weaker year in 2024, he made his comeback in February with a victory in Daegu (South Korea) in 2:05:20.

Top female runners with plenty of potential

The women’s field also boasts some top runners. Rosemary Wanjiru is returning to the German capital. Her impressive marathon career began here in 2022. The Kenyan finished second in Berlin three years ago with a time of 2:18:00. Six months later, she won the Tokyo Marathon and in 2024 she finished second there with her current best time of 2:16:14.

Degitu Azimeraw is another athlete who has already run well under 2:20:00 and has broken this mark several times. The 24-year-old Ethiopian completed her best race to date in London in 2021, where she surprised everyone with second place in 2:17:58. Ethiopian Mestawut Fikir is also returning to the BMW BERLIN MARATHON. After winning her marathon debut in Paris a year ago, the 25-year-old improved to 2:18:48 with a second-place finish in Berlin.

Berlin sets standards in running

A total of 13 marathon world records have been set in Berlin to date, more than any other marathon.

Horst Milde, founder of the Berlin Marathon (1974) and race director for 30 years, is delighted with these 13 world records in Berlin (since 1977), which no other marathon in the world has achieved to date.

As co-founder of the World Marathon Majors (since 2002) – now Abbott World Marathon Majors – with New York, London, Boston, Chicago, Tokyo, Berlin, and most recently Sydney, this organization has set new standards in running.

In addition to the numerous top athletes (further announcements will follow in the coming weeks), organizer SCC EVENTS expects more than 50,000 runners from all over the world to take part in the BMW BERLIN MARATHON.

SCC EVENTS GmbH
Olympiapark Berlin
Hanns-Braun-Straße 4
14053 Berlin