Tigist Assefa is an inspiration

The 2024 London Marathon made history not only for its unprecedented number of finishers but for the extraordinary performances that redefined endurance running.

Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa and Sebastian Sawe, alongside Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo, delivered masterclasses in long-distance running that will resonate across the sport.

Kiplimo announced his marathon arrival in spectacular fashion, clocking 2:03:37 on debut - the fastest first marathon by a Ugandan and Africa's second-quickest debut ever.

His ten-second deficit to winner Sawe (2:03:27) signals Uganda's emergence as a marathon powerhouse.

Assefa, the women's champion (2:15:50), further cemented her dominance after shattering the world record (2:11:53) in Berlin last year.

Her transition from 800m specialist to marathon queen since 2018 demonstrates the transformative power of adaptability and perseverance.

The Ethiopian's success - aided by advanced shoe technology and strategic training - highlights the marginal gains elite runners now pursue.

For Uganda's Stella Chesang, her sixth-place finish (2:22:42) reveals the work still needed to close the gap with global leaders. The disparity underscores systemic challenges facing Ugandan athletes: limited access to performance-enhancing technology, inadequate training ecosystems, and insufficient corporate support.

Assefa's journey offers valuable lessons for Uganda's female runners - the rewards of versatility, the importance of sports science, and the career-transforming potential of world-class performances.

As marathon running evolves into a technology-aided sport, African athletes must balance natural talent with cutting-edge innovation to remain competitive.

This London Marathon didn't just celebrate personal triumphs; it showcased the new frontiers of human endurance where physiology, technology and indomitable will converge to push boundaries. For Uganda, Kiplimo's debut signals exciting possibilities, while Chesang's performance reveals the infrastructure investments still required to produce champions.