By Elias Makori, Managing Editor
Pura Vida Sports Africa has confirmed that Ethiopian marathon powerhouse Tigist Assefa has undergone successful, career-saving surgery in Germany to repair the shattered right tendon that cost her a world record.
Following her agonizing yet heroic finish at Sunday’s Berlin Marathon, the 29-year-old superstar was urgently airlifted to the prestigious BG Unfallklinik Murnau near Munich. In the early hours of Monday morning, specialist Dr. Johannes Gabel successfully operated on the ruptured tendon.
Her manager, Gianni Demadonna, broke the exclusive update to Pura Vida Sports Africa, confirming the procedure was a triumph and that Assefa will remain hospitalized for the next three days as she takes her first steps toward recovery.
The 29-year-old clocked the third-fastest time in women’s marathon - two hours, 11 minutes and four seconds – but at a high cost.
With just two kilometres to the finish line and the world record 2:09:56 held by Kenyan Ruth Chepng’etich in sight, Assefa aggravated her right tendon injury and almost pulled out of the race but soldiered on to finish.
She was later flown to the BG Unfallklinik Murnau (Murnau Trauma Centre) near Munich where she was operated on by Dr. Johannes Gabel in the early hours of Monday.
"The surgery went well and we will see when she can leave the hospital… I think she will be here (hospital) for three more days... She is very tired now and sleeping," Demadonna exclusively updated Pura Vida Sports Africa.
The Murnau Trauma Centre specializes in the acute care and rehabilitation of severely injured and occupationally ill people, and is located in the Bavarian District of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, some 89.4 kilometres from Munich.
The BG Unfallklinik Murnau (Murnau Trauma Centre) near Munich where marathon star Tigist Assefa was operated on by Dr. Johannes Gabel in the early hours of Monday (September 28). (Photo / BG Unfallklinik Murnau)
Six-Month Recovery Period
Demadonna had earlier projected that post-surgery recovery and rehabilitation could take Assefa at least six months before she can compete again, meaning she could recover in time for the Beijing World Championships in September next year, at the very earliest.
“It (recovery) will take long… maybe six months before we can see her in competition again,” he said on Sunday.
The world record was surely going to be broken when Assefa approached the 40km mark on Sunday, But disaster struck and the Achilles tendon injury prevented the Ethiopian from breaking the mark for a second time.
Another dramatic chapter was added to the illustrious history of the BMW Berlin Marathon that will stay in mind for a long time. Elite sport can be cruel and some drama has always been part of the marathon, more so than in almost any other event.
Sunday’s race was a very mixed bag of emotions for Race Director Mark Milde, who is responsible for the elite field in Berlin, and who had endured the withdrawal, due to an injury, by Kenya’s superstar, defending champion and world record holder Sabastian Sawe a few weeks before Sunday’s race.
“Life goes on. We will give it another go next year and tell ourselves: we will come back stronger,” Mark Milde told race media. “There were also some very strong performances on Sunday.”
Limping across the finish line Assefa still set a course record and with 2:11:04 clocked the third-fastest time ever run. Adding the impressive 2:02:50 winning time in the men’s race by another Ethiopian, Guye Adola, made the total men’s and women’s winning times 4:13:54, ranking the 52nd BMW Berlin Marathon the second-fastest marathon of all time, despite all the adversity.
Tigist Assefa's Italian Manager Gianni Demadonna: 'The surgery went well and we will see when she can leave the hospital… I think she will be here (hospital) for three more days.' (Photo / Demadonna Promotions)
Berlin Perfect Stage For Extraordinary Marathon Performances
Had neither Sawe nor Assefa been injured, this year’s race could have been an incredible spectacle in terms of top-class sport. But it was not to be this year.
One thing became clear once again on Sunday: Berlin provides the perfect stage for extraordinary marathon performances and Mark Milde can certainly continue to rely on what is currently the world’s strongest marathon training group.
Sunday’s women’s winner Assefa, third-placed runner Dera Dida, alongside the men’s winner Guye Adola and the men’s runner-up Gemechu Dida all came from one training group in Addis Ababa, coached by Gemedu Dedefo.
The BMW’s partnership with race kitting partners Adidas is also significant given that Adidas is also the kit supplier and sponsor of the management group led by Demadonna and his partners Eric Lilot and Monica Pont Chafer.
The athletes managed by the trio also train under coach Gemedu in Addis and in Kenya, the same stable is based in Kapsabet under coach Claudio Berardelli, another Italian who also coaches Sawe.
There are strong indications that the BMW Berlin Marathon continues to have a bright future – and eventually, the necessary bit of luck will come its way again. (Additional reporting by Race News Service / BMW Berlin Marathon)
Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie and a race official support Tigst Assefa after she completed Sunday's BMW Berlin Marathon with an Achilles tendon injury. Assefa underwent successful surgery on Monday. Below: Tigist Assefa with her manager Gianni Demadona in an earlier event before this year's BMW Berlin Marathon. (Photos / BMW Berlin Marathon / Victah Sailer / Gianni Demadonna)
