Alphonce Simbu

Last updated

Alphonce Felix Simbu
2017 London Marathon - Alphonce Simbu (cropped).jpg
Simbu at the 2017 London Marathon
Personal information
NationalityTanzanian
Born (1992-02-14) 14 February 1992 (age 33)
Weight55 kg (121 lb)
Sport
CountryTanzania
Sport Track and field
Event Marathon
Achievements and titles
Personal best2:04:38
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2025 Tokyo Marathon
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2017 London Marathon
World Marathon Majors
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2025 Boston Marathon
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2022 Birmingham Marathon

Alphonce Felix Simbu (born 14 February 1992) is a Tanzanian long-distance runner who specialises in the marathon. [1] He is the reigning World Champion in marathon, having won the title at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, thus becoming the first Tanzanian athlete to win a gold medal at the World Championships or the Olympics. [2]

Contents

Career

Simbu competed in the marathon event at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics in Beijing, China.

Simbu competed for Tanzania at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the men's marathon. He finished 5th with a time of 2:11.15. [3] He was the flag bearer for Tanzania during the closing ceremony. [4]

Simbu won the 14th edition of the Mumbai Marathon on 15 January 2017. [5] The same year he won the bronze medal at the 2017 World Athletics Championships Marathon with a time of 2:09:51.

In 2019, Simbu competed in the men's marathon at the 2019 World Athletics Championships held in Doha, Qatar. [6] He finished in 16th place. [6]

In June 2021, Simbu qualified to represent Tanzania at the 2020 Summer Olympics where he secured 7th place with a time of 2:11:35. [7]

Simbu won a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the men's marathon event. [8]

In December 2024, Simbu finished 4th in Valencia Marathon and set his personal best at 2:04:38. [9]

Simbu finished second in the 2025 Boston Marathon, in a time of 2:05:04. [10]

In 2025, Simbu became the first Tanzanian to win a gold medal in a world marathon championship after finishing first in the 2025 Tokyo Marathon in Japan with a photo-finish win. [11] [12]

References

  1. ↑ "Alphonce Felix Simbu". IAAF. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  2. ↑ "Simbu takes Tanzania's first global title with marathon victory in Tokyo". World Athletics.org. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  3. ↑ "Rio 2016". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 8 September 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  4. ↑ "The Flagbearers for the Rio 2016 Closing Ceremony". 21 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  5. ↑ "Simbu sizzles: Tanzanian overcomes stiff challenge from second-placed Kipkorir to win elite full marathon - Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". 16 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Marathon Men − Final − Results" (PDF). IAAF. 5 October 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  7. ↑ "Only three athletes to represent Tanzania at Tokyo Olympic games". The Citizen. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  8. ↑ "Marathon - Men's Marathon". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  9. ↑ Final Results
  10. ↑ Schad, Tom (21 April 2025). "Boston Marathon 2025 live: Race updates, highlights, results of 129th running". USA Today. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  11. ↑ "First-ever Tanzanian gold as Simbu dips past Petros in world marathon". France 24. 15 September 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  12. ↑ "Alphonce Felix Simbu Takes Tanzania's First Global Title with Marathon Victory in Tokyo". Accra Sports News. 16 September 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
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