Marathon madness: How a 26.2-mile race ended in a photo finish of 0.03 seconds

26.2 miles of racing came down to two athletes crossing the line in 2:09:48. A photo finish was needed to declare a winner. What happened at the World Championships in Tokyo was unprecedented in elite competition, decided by only 0.03 seconds. That’s even smaller than the margin Jamaica’s Oblique Seville beat compatriot Kishane Thompson by in the 100-meter final.

The men’s marathon produced a moment Amanal Petros, 30, may never forget.

Epic conclusion to men’s marathon in Tokyo

Entering the Olympic Stadium together with Tanzanian Alphonce Felix Simbu, 33, and Italian Illiass Aouani, 29, for the final 1,150 feet, Petros launched a spectacular surge. He left Aouani behind and began to pull away from Simbu, building an eight-meter lead with just 115 feet to go. But step by step, Simbu’s relentless pace closed the gap. In a breathtaking finish, the two crossed the line side by side. Giant screens showed the same time, but the gold went to Simbu, marking the first-ever gold medal for Tanzania at Worlds or the Olympics.

Felix Simbu: From humble beginnings to world champion

Simbu, who earned silver at the 2025 Boston Marathon and bronze at the 2017 World Championships in London, was born in Singida, Tanzania. His early career was modest. “I started with a coach who was a primary school teacher. He told me I’d run well one day. I always heard people say they were going to the World Championships, and I thought to myself: ‘One day, that will be me,’” he recalled.

He began with shorter races, but after being overtaken by most of his competitors in a 0.6-mile (1,000-meter) race in Ethiopia, he decided in 2015 to move up to the marathon under the guidance of national team coach Francis John. Simbu now trains in Arusha, near the base of Kilimanjaro, at an altitude of 7,900 feet (2,400 meters). He runs two training sessions every day except Sunday, when he rests and attends church.

“Never sick, never injured. He never says he can’t do something because it’s hard,” says John. Simbu has become a role model for young runners across Tanzania, inspiring the next generation of athletes.

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