Top things to know about the 2022 Berlin Marathon

The return of Eliud Kipchoge to the Berlin Marathon makes it of one the most anticipated athletics events in 2022; the fastest man on the world’s fastest course.

Adding even more excitement to proceedings on Sunday (25 September), a world record is possible as the Kenyan legend aims to become the second runner ever to win four Berlin marathon titles.

Kipchoge will also use the event as preparation for his third Olympics marathon title attempt at Paris 2024,

Elsewhere, keep an eye out for defending champion Guye Adola, who as a marathon debutant in 2017 nearly surprised Kipchoge.

There is also a world-class women’s field confirmed for the 48th edition of the event, headlined by American pair Sara Hall and national record holder Keira d’Amato.

Also worth keeping an eye on is Kenya's reigning Valencia Marathon champion Nancy Jelagat Meto.

Here’s everything you need to need to know about the 2022 Berlin marathon, including the stars to look out for, the race schedule and how to follow the action on Olympic Channel via our live stream on Olympics.com (territorial restrictions apply).

Eliud Kipchoge aims to break another world record

Kipchoge’s return to Berlin, where he set the world record of 2:01:39 in 2018, means that he could break it again.

He smashed compatriot Dennis Kimetto’s world record that day by one minute, 18 seconds.

“Berlin is the fastest course, it's where a human being can showcase its potential to push the limits," Kipchoge, has previously competed four times in the German city, said when confirming his return.

Since Kipchoge's world record run four years ago, only Kenenisa Bekele has come close to that mark with a 2:01:41 in Berlin a year later.

In 2019, Kipchoge became the first man to ever win the London marathon four times and made history by being the only man to complete a 42km run in under two hours albeit in controlled conditions.

The 37-year-old then defended his Olympic marathon title at Tokyo 2020, and returned to Japan last March running the fastest ever Tokyo marathon.

Kipchoge is the favourite to win his fourth title in the German capital and join the exclusive four-star club.

Former world marathon record holder Haile Gebrselassie won four-back-to-back marathon titles between 2006-2009.

Berlin marathon: Stars to watch 

Since Kipchoge’s last race in Berlin, he’s also had to cope with the worst finish in his marathon career. The marathon veteran finished in eighth place at the London event in 2020 behind Shura Kitata, a memory that should keep him wary of another Ethiopian he will face in Berlin: Adola.

In 2017, the largely unknown runner nearly upset the marathon king when he took charge in the last 5km. Kipchoge tactically managed to regain his lead with two kilometres remaining and win what he termed ‘the hardest’ marathon of his career.

At 31, Adola is now a star of the sport. He beat another of his childhood heroes, Bekele, in 2021 to win his first major.

He is the second fastest on the start list for Berlin 2022 with a time of 2:03:46 and has plans to 'achieve a time under 2:03:00 hours'.

Who to watch in the women's field in Berlin

American record holder Keira D'Amato is the fastest of the 21 elite runners in the women's field with a time of 2:19:12 - her winning run at the 2022 Houston marathon.

The 37-year-old hopes to continue an impressive comeback to the sport that began in 2016. D’Amato finished eighth at the 2022 worlds in Eugene, showing little sign of a runner who was out of action for seven years following a series of injuries in her post collegiate cross-county and track career.

She will be joined by compatriot Hall, who finished fifth in Eugene.

The California native's best finish in Berlin came in 2019 (fifth), and she has registered two podium finishes in the marathon majors. The 39-year-old, who is also listed for the 2022 New York Marathon, was second behind world record holder Brigid Kosgei at the 2020 London marathon, and third in Chicago last year.

Also keep an eye on the East Africans led by the other sub 2:20 runners in Kenya’s Nancy Jelagat Meto who goes to Berlin with a personal best of 2:19:31 from the 2022 Valencia Marathon, and Vibian Chepkirui, winner of the Vienna City Marathon in 2:20:59 in April.

The Ethiopians are represented by Prague Marathon runner-up Gutemi Shone Imana, and Workenesh Edesa, who was sixth at the 2019 Valencia marathon.

2022 Berlin Marathon schedule

The start of the elite men and women’s race is scheduled for 9.15am CET.

The first race will be the elite Wheelchair Marathon and Wheelchair 10km Race  

8:50 a.m. ―　Elite handbiker races

8:57 a.m. ―　Wheelchair and handbiker races

9:15 a.m. ―　Marathon start (in four waves)

How to watch the 2022 Berlin Marathon

There will be free online coverage available for international audience.

In Germany, there will be live broadcasts on ARD from 09:00 a.m. until noon CET and RBB broadcasts from 09:00 a.m. - 14:00 p.m.