Kinde Atanaw

Last updated

Kinde Atanaw
Kinde Atanaw.jpg
Atanaw at the 2024 London Marathon
Personal information
NationalityEthiopian
BornKinde Atanaw
(1993-04-15) 15 April 1993 (age 32)
Ethiopia
Occupation long-distance runner
Years active2013–present
Sport
CountryFlag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia
SportAthletics
Event(s)
 Marathon, Half marathon, 10K Road
Achievements and titles
Personal bests

Kinde Atanaw Ayalew (born 15 April 1993) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner specializing in marathon events. [1] He is best known for winning the Valencia Marathon, where he set his personal best time of 2:03:51, making him one of the fastest marathoners in history. Atanaw has also achieved top finishes in World Marathon Majors, including 4th place at the 2022 London Marathon.

Contents

Career

Kinde Atanaw emerged on the international road running scene with strong performances in shorter distances before transitioning to the marathon. He recorded a personal best of 27:36 in the 10 kilometres road race in 2013, and a half marathon best of 1:00:13 in 2019. [2]

In December 2019, Atanaw won the Valencia Marathon in 2:03:51, setting a course record. [3] [2] It was the third-fastest marathon debut time in history. His performance was described as "stunning" because it was far better than his 60:13 half marathon time set earlier that year. [4] He said after the race, "I had a lot of confidence in myself. I knew the time had come for my marathon debut. My training had gone well, and compared to my training partners, I knew I was better than them to win". [5] He wore Vaporfly super shoes during his run. [6]

Atanaw was part of the elite field at the 2021 London Marathon. However, he had to withdraw after testing positive for COVID-19. [7]

Atanaw finished 4th at the 2022 London Marathon in 2:05:27, [8] and 10th at the 2022 Boston Marathon with a time of 2:09:16. [9]

In 2023, he was a featured entrant for the Mumbai Marathon, where his personal best of 2:03:51 led the pre-race field, though he did not finish the race. [10] Later in the year, he was announced as one of the top Ethiopian contenders for the Shanghai Marathon. [11] He finished 6th at the 2023 Shanghai Marathon with a time of 2:08:27. [12]

In 2024, Atanaw finished 8th at the 2024 London Marathon with a time of 2:10:03. [13]

In 2025, Atanaw finished 5th at the Haspa Marathon Hamburg with a time of 2:06:58. [14]

Media coverage

Kinde Atanaw has attracted significant attention in sports journalism, particularly in the context of major international marathons.

In December 2019, Atanaw won the Valencia Marathon in a debut time of 2:03:53, setting a new course record. Spanish outlet Economía 3 reported that his surprise victory elevated Valencia to the sixth fastest marathon worldwide and the fastest in Europe at the time, offering analysis of how his late-race surge disrupted pre-race expectations. [15]

In October 2021, Let’s Run reported on Atanaw’s unexpected withdrawal from the London Marathon following a positive COVID-19 test. The article highlighted his status among elite athletes and coaches in a chartered team, emphasizing how his illness led to his precautionary removal while the rest of the group was cleared to compete. [16]

Ahead of the 2023 London Marathon, FastRunning provided an in-depth profile of Atanaw. The preview described his 2019 Valencia debut as “the best of his career” and reviewed his marathon history—including selective racing since 2016 and notable performances in Valencia, Prague, Boston, and London—placing his career trajectory within the context of elite distance running. [17]

Achievements

YearRaceLocationPositionTime
2019 Valencia Marathon Valencia 1st2:03:51 (PB) [2]
2022 Boston Marathon Boston 10th2:09:16 [9]
2022 London Marathon London 4th2:05:27 [8]
2023 Shanghai Marathon Shanghai 6th2:08:27 [12]
2024 London Marathon London 8th2:10:03 [13]
2025 Haspa Marathon Hamburg Hamburg 5th2:06:58 [14]

References

  1. ↑ Kinde Atanaw at ARRS
  2. 1 2 3 "Kinde Atanaw – World Athletics". World Athletics. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  3. ↑ "Kinde Atanaw". Elite Sports Marketing and Management. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  4. ↑ "A Recordsetting Fall Road Scene". trackandfieldnews.com .
  5. ↑ "Kinde Atanaw Alayew convierte al Maratón Valencia en el sexto mas rapido del mundo". noticiascv.com (in Spanish). December 2019.
  6. ↑ "La revolucion de Valencia: el primer maraton 2h03 y 2h18 en España". runnersworld.com (in Spanish). December 2019.
  7. ↑ "2:03:51 marthoner Kinde Atanaw forced to withdraw from 2021 London Marathon after testing positive for Covid-19". letsrun.com .
  8. 1 2 "Two personal bests and a reassuring performance in the last major marathons". Elite Running Team. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  9. 1 2 "2022 Boston Marathon Results". MarathonGuide.com. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  10. ↑ "Newcomers Kinde and Sofia reveal podium ambitions for Sunday's race". Daijiworld.com. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  11. ↑ "Kinde Atanaw, Tadu Teshome lead Ethiopian charge at Shanghai Marathon on Sunday". Fana Broadcasting Corporate S.C. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  12. 1 2 "Shanghai Marathon". World Athletics. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  13. 1 2 "London Marathon Results 2024". NBC Sports. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  14. 1 2 "39. Haspa Marathon Hamburg Results". World Athletics. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  15. ↑ "El debutante Kinde Atanaw gana el Maratón de Valencia". Economía 3 (in Spanish). 1 December 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  16. ↑ "2:03:51 marathoner Kinde Atanaw forced to withdraw from 2021 London Marathon after testing positive for Covid-19". Let’s Run. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  17. ↑ "London Marathon – Elite Men Preview". FastRunning. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
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