Anniversary in Hamburg
As of: April 26, 2026 3:39 p.m
Othmane El-Goumri won the 40th edition of the Hamburg Marathon, Samuel Fitwi came a very strong second. The German made history, as did Brillian Kipkoech with the women. Tens of thousands of spectators frenetically cheer on the approximately 20,000 amateur athletes and turn the anniversary into a celebration.
Othmane El-Goumri was unstoppable in the last meters of the Hamburg Marathon. The Moroccan pulled away irresistibly and, somewhat surprisingly, won the 40th edition of the traditional event in 2:04:24 hours. “I actually wanted to run a little faster, but I’m happy about the Moroccan record,” said the 33-year-old, who set his previous national record of 2:05:12 hours in Barcelona three years ago.
Fitwi runs the second best German marathon time
Only 21 seconds behind, Samuel Fitwi (Trier New Year’s Eve Run) crossed the finish line in second place to great cheers and became the first German to reach the podium in Hamburg again after 27 years. 2:04:45 hours was a personal best for the 30-year-old and the second best time by a German athlete to date.
At the finish, Fitwi exuberantly celebrated his coup with the German flag over his shoulders. “I am very, very happy,” said the German in the NDR interview. “The weather cooperated, the atmosphere is great, the city is great. There will definitely be a bit of celebration today.”
Video:
Samuel Fitwi: “I am very, very happy” (3 min)
Fitwi narrowly missed the second German victory in the running spectacle in the Hanseatic city since Jörg Peter in 1991. Carsten Eich was last in the top three in Hamburg in 1999, also coming in second place. Fitwi ran the German record of 2:04:56 hours at the marathon in Valencia in 2024, but at the end of the previous year, runner-up world champion Amanal Petros improved the national record to 2:04:03 hours.
From a German perspective, Aaron Bienenfeld (Düsseldorf Athletics) also made a great debut in Hamburg, showed a courageous race right from the start and finished 16th in 2:08:47 hours. A German marathon runner has never been faster on his debut.
Kipkoech creates excitement
In the women’s race, winner Brillian Kipkoech caused a storm of enthusiasm at the finish. The Kenyan ran a sensational race and set a course record in 2:17:05 hours. “I never thought I could break the course record. My goal was to significantly beat my personal best,” said Kipkoech.
Tabea Themann (Hamburg Running)’s joy was also boundless. She finished eighth in 2:30:32 hours, setting a Hamburg record and securing the championship title. “I’m overwhelmed,” said Themann in the NDR interview.
Video:
The Hamburg Marathon in re-live (180 min)
Tens of thousands of spectators along the route
Around 46,000 people walked through the streets of the Hanseatic city over the entire marathon weekend – a record. 20,000 runners registered for the “supreme discipline”, the 42.195 kilometers, alone. Tens of thousands of spectators once again lined the picturesque route through Hamburg in bright sunshine, cheered on the professionals and are currently carrying thousands of amateur athletes to the finish line.
Sports Senator Grote: “The mood is sensational”
Andy Grote (SPD), who watched the race early in the morning, was enthusiastic at the track in an NDR interview: “The atmosphere is sensational, the whole city is joining in. No other event is celebrated like this in Hamburg,” said Hamburg’s Interior and Sports Senator. “A lot of runners, including international runners, say that they only have such an atmosphere here, and we can be a little proud of that.”
“This is a foretaste of what it could be like with the Olympics in Hamburg.”
Hamburg’s sports senator Andy Grote (SPD)
With a view to the Hanseatic city’s Olympic bid, in which the smooth organization of major sporting events is also an important criterion, Grote emphasized “the combination of sport and city experience”. “This is a foretaste of what it could be like with the Olympics in Hamburg.” On May 31st, the citizens of the Hanseatic city will vote on whether Hamburg will apply for the Olympic Games.
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Grote: “Sensational atmosphere and foretaste of the Olympics” (3 min)
Emergency in the finish area – runner collapses
The 40th Hamburg Marathon was overshadowed by a medical emergency. A 35-year-old runner collapsed shortly after crossing the finish line. According to the fire department’s situation service, rescue workers successfully resuscitated the man and took him to a hospital.
