Tigst Assefa Tessema, born on December 3, 1996, is an elite Ethiopian long-distance runner who rose to global fame after shattering the women’s marathon world record at the 2023 Berlin Marathon. Initially making her mark as a middle-distance athlete, she represented Ethiopia in the 800 meters at the 2016 Rio Olympics before transitioning to road races in 2018. Her switch to long-distance events led to an explosive marathon debut in 2022 and a historic performance the following year, where she became the first woman to break the 2:14, 2:13, and 2:12 barriers in the marathon.
Tigst Assefa Profile
| Name | Tigst Assefa |
| Real Name | Tigst Assefa Tessema |
| Date of Birth | 3 December 1996 |
| Age | 29 years |
| Nationality | Ethiopian |
| Occupation | Long-distance runner |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Net Worth | $1.5 Million |
| Copied from | contents101.com |
Educational Background
While Tigst Assefa’s formal academic background is not widely publicized, her early life was primarily dedicated to athletics. She began competitive running as a young teenager in Ethiopia, a country known for integrating athletics into community and youth development programs. Most of her formative years were spent training under national athletics development systems rather than pursuing traditional academic tracks.
Career
Tigst’s athletic journey began in the 400 meters, claiming bronze at the Ethiopian Senior Championships in 2009 at just 12 years old. She moved up to the 800 meters by 2012 and had her international breakthrough in 2013, securing bronze at the African Junior Championships. In 2014, she clocked a personal best of 1:59.24 in Lausanne and competed in major events including the African Championships and the IAAF Continental Cup.
By 2016, she was an Olympian, representing Ethiopia in the 800 meters at the Rio Games. However, persistent Achilles issues forced her off the track. She returned in 2018 on the road circuit, gradually moving up in distance. Tigst’s marathon debut came in 2022 in Riyadh, followed by a groundbreaking performance in Berlin that year, where she ran the third-fastest women’s marathon ever.
In 2023, she stunned the world by obliterating the women’s marathon world record in Berlin, finishing in 2:11:53. This performance redefined expectations for female marathoners, both in pace and potential. Her record stood until October 2024, when Kenya’s Ruth Chepng’etich surpassed it in Chicago.
In August 2024, Tigst claimed silver at the Paris Olympic Games marathon, finishing just behind Sifan Hassan in one of the most dramatic races in Olympic history.
Controversies
Tigst Assefa became the center of Olympic controversy during the Paris 2024 marathon. In the final stretch of the race, a collision occurred between her and Sifan Hassan as they sprinted to the finish line. Tigst’s path appeared to shift toward the barriers, causing both runners to stumble.
Though Hassan recovered to win, Ethiopia protested for potential obstruction. The appeal was denied, and the incident sparked widespread debate among fans and analysts. Tigst later commented that she believed the outcome could have been different without the incident.
Tigst Assefa Social Media Handle
https://www.instagram.com/tigist__assefa/?hl=en
Personal Life
Tigst Assefa is happily married and she is deeply committed to her training and rarely makes public appearances unrelated to her athletic career.
Tigst Assefa Net Worth
Tigst Assefa’s net worth is estimated to be around $1.5 Million.