Alphonce Simbu
Simbu at the 2017 London Marathon | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Tanzanian |
| Born | 14 February 1992 |
| Weight | 55 kg (121 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Country | Tanzania |
| Sport | Track and field |
Event | Marathon |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best | 2:04:38 |
Medal record | |
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]
Career
[edit]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 World Championships Marathon in Japan with a photo-finish win.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ "Alphonce Felix Simbu". IAAF. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- ^ "Simbu takes Tanzania's first global title with marathon victory in Tokyo". World Athletics.org. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ "Rio 2016". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 8 September 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
- ^ "The Flagbearers for the Rio 2016 Closing Ceremony". 21 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "Marathon Men − Final − Results" (PDF). IAAF. 5 October 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
- ^ "Only three athletes to represent Tanzania at Tokyo Olympic games". The Citizen. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
- ^ "Marathon - Men's Marathon". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ Final Results
- ^ Schad, Tom (21 April 2025). "Boston Marathon 2025 live: Race updates, highlights, results of 129th running". USA Today. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ "First-ever Tanzanian gold as Simbu dips past Petros in world marathon". France 24. 15 September 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
External links
[edit]- 1992 births
- Living people
- Tanzanian men long-distance runners
- Tanzanian men marathon runners
- World Athletics Championships athletes for Tanzania
- Olympic athletes for Tanzania
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2016 Summer Olympics
- World Athletics Championships medalists
- World Athletics Championships winners
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2020 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
- Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Tanzania
- 21st-century Tanzanian people
- Medallists at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2024 Summer Olympics
- 21st-century Tanzanian sportsmen
- Commonwealth Games silver medallists in athletics