Ethiopian Runners Dominate 25th Dubai Marathon With Historic Sweep: Sports Ministry
Ethiopian Runners Dominate 25th Dubai Marathon With Historic Sweep: Sports Ministry
Athletes from Ethiopia secured a near-total monopoly by claiming the top ten positions in both the men’s and women’s categories, the Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Sport announced.
The only non-Ethiopian to break into the top three was Rwandan runner John Hakizimana, who finished third in the men’s race, according to the ministry.
This victory extends Ethiopia's long-standing dominance in the event; since 2004, Ethiopian runners have won the men’s race 18 times and the women’s race 19 times.
"This remarkable dominance has now reached the point where athletes from other countries fear competing against Ethiopians," the ministry noted.
The ministry cited three factors behind this consistent success:
🟠Altitude Training: High-elevation conditioning builds endurance for sea-level races.
🟠Favorable Climate: Nighttime race conditions mirror their cool, highland training environment.
🟠Flat Course: Familiarity with rugged hills makes the level Dubai route less demanding.
The scale of Ethiopian participation was itself notable, with Ethiopians comprising 90% of the "elite" field, the ministry noted.
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