Degitu Azimeraw
Ethiopian long-distance runner
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Degitu Azimeraw Asires (born 24 January 1999) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who competes in marathon, half marathon, and track events. She is a silver medalist at the African Games and has achieved podium finishes in World Marathon Majors.
24 January 1999
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationality | Ethiopian | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Degitu Azimeraw Asires 24 January 1999 Ethiopia | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | long-distance runner | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Years active | 2017–present | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Agent | NN Running Team | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  Ethiopia | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||
Event(s) | Marathon, Half marathon, 10,000m, Cross Country | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Tessema Abshero | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal bests |
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Medal record
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Career
Degitu Azimeraw began her international career as a teenager, winning the 2017 Tata Steel Kolkata 25K in her first international race with a course record of 1:26:01.[1] In 2018, she significantly improved her to 1:06:47 at the RAK Half Marathon and won the Gifu Half Marathon in Japan.[2]
In 2019, she further lowered her personal best to 1:06:07 at the RAK Half Marathon.[3] Representing Ethiopia, she won a silver medal in the women's half marathon at the 2019 African Games in Rabat, Morocco, finishing in 1:10:31.[4] Later that year, in her marathon debut, she won the 2019 Amsterdam Marathon in a course record time of 2:19:26, which was the second fastest debut marathon time for a woman in history.[5][1]
In 2020, Azimeraw competed at the 2020 RAK Half Marathon, placing ninth with 1:07:02, and finished sixth at the 2020 Valencia Marathon in 2:19:56.[1] In 2021, she set a new personal best of 2:17:58 to finish second at the 2021 London Marathon, placing her 11th on the all-time list at the time.[1] She also won the 10K at the Nationale Nederlanden San Silvestre in Madrid with a time of 30:26.
After a period of time away for family in 2022-2023, Azimeraw returned to competition.[citation needed] In March 2024, she emerged victorious at the 2024 Barcelona Marathon, clocking 2:19:52 in her first marathon post-pregnancy, leading an Ethiopian podium sweep.[6] She competed at the 2025 Tokyo Marathon, finishing eighth with a time of 2:20:26.[7][8]
Achievements
| Year | Race | Place | Position | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Tata Steel Kolkata 25K | Kolkata | 1st | 1:26:01 (CR)[2] |
| 2018 | RAK Half Marathon | Ras Al Khaimah | 6th | 1:06:47 (WJR) |
| 2018 | Gifu Half Marathon | Gifu | 1st | 1:09:53 |
| 2019 | RAK Half Marathon | Ras Al Khaimah | 4th | 1:06:07 (PB)[3] |
| 2019 | 2019 African Games | Rabat | 2nd | 1:10:31[4] |
| 2019 | Amsterdam Marathon | Amsterdam | 1st | 2:19:26 (CR, PB)[5] |
| 2020 | RAK Half Marathon | Ras Al Khaimah | 9th | 1:07:02[1] |
| 2020 | Valencia Marathon | Valencia | 6th | 2:19:56[1] |
| 2021 | 2021 London Marathon | London | 2nd | 2:17:58 (PB)[1] |
| 2021 | Nationale Nederlanden San Silvestre Vallecana 10K | Madrid | 1st | 30:26[1] |
| 2024 | Barcelona Marathon | Barcelona | 1st | 2:19:52[6] |
| 2025 | 2025 Tokyo Marathon | Tokyo | 8th | 2:20:26[7] |