Kimetto, Desisa clash in Sunday's highly anticipated Dubai Marathon
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 11.01.25. | 11:54
A chain of injuries slowed down Kimetto from 2015, seeing him miss out on a chance to compete at the Tokyo Olympics
Former marathon world record holder Dennis Kimetto is set to headline this year's Dubai Marathon set for Sunday 12 January.
Kimetto's 2:02:57 personal best (PB) makes him the fastest entrant in a line-up also featuring a former world marathon champion in Ethiopia's Lelisa Desisa.
One of the shooting stars of recent marathon history, Kimetto had a short stellar career during which, in addition to other top victories, he won three of the most prestigious marathons in the world, Chicago, Tokyo and Berlin, breaking the course record in each event, and setting a world record in the final one, in Berlin 2014.
He was the first to run sub 2:03 (2.02.57) and his record stood for four years. With his PB a decade old and Kimetto celebrating his 41st birthday, ten days after the race, it will be a different challenge for the former world record holder.
In the 2025 Dubai Marathon men’s field, Kenyan Dennis Kimetto boasts a marathon best of 2:02:57 (a former world record), while our 2013 champion Lelisa Desisa on 2:04:45 and fellow Ethiopian Dino Sefir (2:04:50) make up the top three PBs#marathon #dubai pic.twitter.com/XzWXQrXRiV
— Dubai Marathon (@dubai_marathon) January 7, 2025
His last marathon dates back to 2018, a tenth place finish at the Shanghai Marathon in 2:14:54. This was a culmination of an injury-landed period. His troubles trace back to the Fukuoka Marathon in December 2015 where he stopped at the 5-kilometre mark after dropping off the pace at 2 kilometres due to an injury.
After finishing ninth at the 2016 London Marathon, Kimetto removed himself from consideration for the Rio Olympics, intending instead to run in the Chicago Marathon. However, he pulled out ahead of the race, citing a stress fracture in his left leg.
Kimetto's injury problems continued in 2017, with a knee injury forcing him to withdraw from the field for the Boston Marathon. He failed to finish both the Chicago Marathon in October and the Honolulu Marathon in December. At the Vienna City Marathon in April 2018 Kimetto dropped out before the 25-kilometre point.
He goes up against 2019 World Champion Desisa who is returning to the very race where he exploded on to the world marathon scene by winning a compelling Dubai Marathon back in 2013.
It was the start of a running journey that took him to running glory at the Boston Marathon in 2013 and 2015, the New York Marathon in 2018 before being crowned World Marathon Champion in Doha.
Also not to be ignored is 36-year-old Ethiopian Dino Sefir Kemal, one of three members of the Ethiopian team who competed in the marathon at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
He qualified with a time of 2:04:50, his PB to date, at the 2012 Dubai Marathon and his time was one of the top five personal records among the marathon entrants at the 2012 Olympics. He, however failed to finish tha race.
Men's Elite List
Dennis Kimetto KEN 2:02:57
Lelisa Desisa ETH 2:04:45
Dino Sefir ETH 2:04:50
Shifera Tamru ETH 2:05:18
Gebru Redahgne ETH 2:05:58
Ashenafi Moges ETH 2:06:12
Abay Alemu ETH 2:06:50
Mesfin Nigusu ETH 2:07:58
Tadele Demissie ETH 2:08:25
Desalegn Girma ETH 2:08:30
Berehanu Tsegu ETH Debut
Boki Diriba ETH Debut
