For the first time in five years, Ethiopia achieved a double in the Paris Marathon thanks to victories on Sunday from Mulugeta Uma and Mestawut Fikir in the men’s and women’s divisions.
Uma defeated Kenyan competitors Titus Kipruto and Elisha Rotich with a time of 2:05:33 on a course that was different from the Olympic event in August.
Rotich finished over a minute behind Kipruto, who finished 15 seconds behind Uma. Having set the track record in 2021, Rotich entered the race as the pre-race favourite.
Fikir beat her fellow countrywoman Enat Tirusew to the finish line by three seconds in the women’s race, finishing in 2:20:45. Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot placed third.
The last time Ethiopia won both the men’s and women’s races in Paris was in 2019 with Abrha Milaw and Gelete Burka.