Kenyans and Ethiopians chasing the Paris crown
Among the thousands of enthusiasts at the start, Ethiopia’s Kinde Atanaw (ASICS athlete) holds the best performance with 2:03:51, achieved at the Marathon de Valence in 2019, which he won. Consistent on the major marathons, the 32-year-old athlete also stood out with a fourth-place finish at the Marathon de Londres in 2022. Another serious contender for the podium, his compatriot Leul Gebresilase (ASICS athlete) holds a personal best of 2:04:02 set in 2018 in Dubai. Runner-up at the Marathon de Londres in 2022 and bronze medallist at the Budapest World Championships in 2023, he is considered a very reliable performer over the distance.
Speaking of favourites, Uganda’s Victor Kiplangat, world champion in Budapest in 2023 (2:08:53), joins the discussion among the contenders for victory in what is an exceptionally deep field, along with Kenyan Sila Kiptoo, who knows the streets of the capital perfectly. Third at the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris 2025 in 2:06:21, he returns this year and could build on that experience to aim even higher.
Other African stars have confirmed their presence in the City of Light. First among them is Kenya’s Hillary Kipkoech (ASICS athlete, PB 2:04:45), one of the men capable of animating the race. Eighth at the Marathon de Valence 2024, he then finished seventh at the Marathon de Londres 2025, proof of his consistency at the highest level. Norway’s Eritrean-born Awet Nftalem Kibrab (ASICS athlete) will also be one to watch, as shown by his third place at the Marathon de Valence 2025, completed in 2:04:24.
Ethiopians Samwel Mailu (ASICS athlete), winner of the Marathon de Vienne 2023 in 2:05:08, and Bayelign Teshager, winner of the Marathon de Fukuoka 2025 in 2:07:51, Rwanda’s John Hakizimana (ASICS athlete), third at the Marathon de Dubaï 2026 in 2:06:04, as well as Uganda’s Mande Bushendich, winner of the Marathon de Malaga 2025 in 2:06:08, all have the potential to play leading roles. Attention will also be on the marathon debut of Djibouti’s Mohamed Ismaël (ASICS athlete), who clocked 59:45 in the half marathon in Lisbon on March 8.
We should also note the presence of American runner Futsum Zienasellassie, the 2025 U.S. champion in Sacramento with a time of 2:09:31, who could take advantage of a fast race to significantly improve his personal best.
Italy’s Yemaneberhan Crippa, European champion in the half marathon in 2024 and European champion in the 10,000 m in 2022, will arrive with big ambitions and the idea of improving on his 2:06:06 set in 2024 in Seville. He will look to build on his current momentum after posting a time of 59:01 in the half marathon in Naples on February 22 (national record). Only Sweden’s Andreas Almgren (58:41 in Valencia in 2025) has run faster in Europe in history. Switzerland’s Matthias Kyburz, an orienteering specialist successfully converted to road running and author of 2:06:48 in Seville 2025, Norway’s Zerei Kbrom Mezngi (2:07:10 in Valencia in 2022) and Turkey’s Sezgin Atac (2:07:26 in Daegu in 2025) remain among the best European road runners of the moment.
Magdalyne Masai favourite in a highly competitive field
With three women holding personal bests under 2:20, the women’s race should deliver a great spectacle at the front. With a personal best of 2:18:58, achieved at the Marathon de Francfort 2024 where she finished second, Kenya’s Magdalyne Masai (ASICS athlete) will arrive on the Champs-Élysées with the best time among the entrants and is among the main contenders for victory. Her other major achievements include a fourth place at the Marathon de Tokyo 2025 (2:19:28) and another second place in Frankfurt in 2025 (2:20:23). Her compatriot Sharon Chelimo (ASICS athlete) also arrives with strong credentials. Winner of the Marathon de Barcelone 2025 in 2:19:33, she confirmed her consistency at the highest level with a third place in Frankfurt the same year, and will meet again her runner-up from Catalonia, Ethiopia’s Yebrgual Melese (ASICS athlete, 2:19:36 in Dubai in 2018).
Among the other athletes to watch are Ethiopians Enatnesh Alamrew Tirusew, runner-up at the Marathon de Paris 2024 in 2:20:48, Shure Demise, winner of the Marathon de Toronto 2025 in 2:21:03, and Misgane Alemayehu (ASICS athlete), winner of the Marathon de Malaga 2025 in 2:24:44, as well as Bahrain’s Desi Jisa Mokonin (2:20:07 in Tokyo in 2025).
The European field will notably be led by Finland’s Alisa Vainio (ASICS athlete), recent winner of the Marathon de Séville 2026 in 2:20:39 and fifth at the Tokyo World Championships 2025, and Camilla Richardson (2:24:38 in 2023 in Valencia). The French athletes will be well represented with the three marathoners selected for the Jeux Olympiques de Paris 2024: Mekdes Woldu (ASICS athlete, 2:23:13 in 2025 in Barcelona), Méline Rollin (2:24:12 in 2024 in Seville) and Mélody Julien (2:25:00 in 2023 in Valencia). Christelle Daunay currently holds the best ranking and the fastest time by a Frenchwoman, with a second place in 2010 and an outstanding time of 2:24:22. As in the previous edition, the women’s elites will start at the same time as their male counterparts.