• Tanzania's Alphonce Simbu wins his country's first gold at a global championship in a dramatic marathon finish.
• The marathon ended with a photo finish decided by just 0.03 seconds, the closest finish in World Championships history.
• German Amanal Petros won silver after a close race, dedicating his medal to his mother in Ethiopia.
• Italian Iliass Aouani secured bronze in the same marathon event.
• Simbu previously earned bronze in the 2017 World Championships and came second in the Boston Marathon.

In a historic moment for Tanzanian athletics, Alphonce Felix Simbu won the gold medal in the men's marathon at the World Championships, marking Tanzania's first global title in this event. The race concluded with a spectacular photo finish, where Simbu narrowly edged out Germany's Amanal Petros by just 0.03 seconds, a margin finer than those in the previous day's 100-meter finals. Both athletes clocked identical official times of 2:09:48, but Simbu's late surge clinched the victory as they approached the finish line at the Japan National Stadium, according to Al Jazeera, Africanews, and Reuters.

Simbu's victory is a landmark achievement for Tanzania, as the marathon gold represents an important milestone in the country's athletic history. “When we entered the stadium, I was not sure if I would win,” Simbu reflected. “But when I saw the video screens and me on the top of the results, I felt relieved.” The race's tight finish is noted as the closest marathon finish in World Championships history, surpassing other past tight finishes at major events, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

Petros, who completed the race in silver medal position, dedicated his achievement to his mother in Ethiopia, expressing the emotional significance of his performance. “This is for my mother,” he stated, highlighting his journey as a refugee from Eritrea to Germany and his long separation from family, which adds to the poignant nature of his silver medal. The emotional weight of such a race proves significant as he remarked, “I have to accept it... train hard, keep going and be thankful for the silver,” as reported by South China Morning Post and Reuters.

The competition was fierce throughout the marathon, which was characterized by an unpredictable pacing as the early leaders struggled in the Tokyo heat. Ultimately, the event involved a thinning of the pack, leading to a head-to-head battle between Simbu, Petros, and bronze medalist Iliass Aouani of Italy, who finished in 2:09:53. This race has revived interest in East African distance running after a surprising victory in the 10,000 meters the day before by Frenchman Jimmy Gressier, marking a resounding return for traditional distance powers, according to Africanews and South China Morning Post.