Olympic champ Tamirat Tola chases back-to-back New York City Marathon titles; eyes world record in 2025: “I hope to attack it”
The Ethiopian said he’d like to try for the world record in Berlin next season. He is looking to become the first man ever to win at both the Olympics and in New York in the same season.
Athletics
What a year it’s been for Tamirat Tola. And what a year he hopes to have over the next 12 months, too.
A year ago, the Ethiopian distance runner captured his first marathon major in New York City, and in July he became the first man from his country to win an Olympic marathon title since Sydney 2000.
Now a national hero at home, he says he wants to defend his title in New York – and is setting his sights on the world record in 2025.
“I arrive with confidence; I [feel] good mentally, so I think I can win,” Tola told Olympics.com on Thursday (31 October) at a media conference ahead of the New York City Marathon.
"I expect I'll have a good race,” the 33-year-old added. “And I can see if there's anything that I can improve [for moving forward].”
That improvement in mind is not targeted for next year’s World Athletics Championships, but instead his want to chase down the late Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum’s record mark of two hours, 35 seconds, set at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.
“I hope to attack the world record,” he said plainly. “I hope to be able to run in Berlin next year. If I'm good shape and if my training goes well, I'd like to try the world record in Berlin.”
Four of the 10 fastest men’s times in the last decade have been achieved at Berlin.
But first, New York. Tola is trying for history on Sunday (3 November), too. No man has successfully defended his title since Geoffrey Mutai won two in a row in 2011 and 2013 (the 2012 race was cancelled); while only Peres Jepchirchir on the women’s side has won the Olympics and New York in the same year (2021).
“This is my favourite course,” Tola said. “My coach gave me very hard training coming in; that’s very important for me. My body is OK. On Sunday we will see.”
Tamirat Tola: Paris 2024 win "changed my life completely"
Rewind three months and Tola wasn’t even supposed to run in the men’s marathon event at the Paris Olympics, getting a late call-up from the Ethiopian team after Sisay Lemma withdrew due to injury.
He made it worthwhile, winning in an Olympic record 2:06:26 and becoming the first Ethiopian man since Gezahegne Abera in Sydney to claim the most coveted road race.
“It changed my life completely,” Tola said of his Olympic triumph. “This is a goal of not only mine but all athletes, to win the Olympics.
Tola said his win in New York in 2023 helped springboard his confidence for Paris, noting how similar the two courses are. He returned home as a national hero: He was the lone Ethiopian to win an Olympic gold medal during Paris 2024.
“It's a very special feeling I've received from people [at home]; a lot of admiration,” he told Olympics.com via an interpreter. “I received a lot of respect. A lot of young and upcoming athletes have been inspired by it... and they want to train with me, they’re eager to be with me.
“There were people who knew me from other championships [before], but now after the Olympics, it's much more. It's given me a lot more renown and it's very enjoyable.”
All in the family: Tola's wife set to race NYC, too
It’s a very special week for the Tola family as a whole, too, as Tamirat’s wife, Dera Dida is set to run in the women’s race. They’ve brought their three-year-old, Fenan, on the trip, too.
“She’s really enjoying it,” Tola explained, breaking into a smile. “She loves getting calls from people back home and saying, ‘I’m in New York! I’m in America!’”
Tola said it’s the first time that both he and Dera competed at the same marathon since Dubai in 2018. Last year, she and Tola’s brother, Abdisa, won side-by-side titles at Dubai, too.
“I’m happy to have my family here; it boosts my confidence,” he said. “I think she will benefit, too. Knowing that I’m here will inspire her.”
2022 NYC champion Evans Chebet: "I'm ready"
The men’s elite field also features 2022 New York champion Evans Chebet of Kenya, who is the two-time and reigning Boston champion, as well.
“I see three guys,” Chebet told Olympics.com, naming off himself, Tola and Olympic silver medallist Bashir Abdi of Belgium. “I’m ready,” Chebet added.
“It’s not easy,” to defend a marathon major, Chebet said, speaking from experience of his back-to-back wins in Boston.