Top athletes ready for an exciting race at the TCS Amsterdam Marathon

During the press conference at The Concertgebouw this morning, there was an eager look ahead to the TCS Amsterdam Marathon. Who will claim the coveted victory this Sunday after months of training? Among the men, Tsegaye Getachew and Philemon Kiplimo expressed their high expectations. Yalemzerf Yehualaw and Winfridah Moseti are both aiming to break the women’s course record (2:17:20). Khalid Choukoud hopes to improve his personal best on the familiar course.

While the athletes have successfully completed their training, achieving fast times still depends on the weather conditions. Athlete manager Jurrie van der Velden from Global Sports Communication looked ahead on behalf of Le Champion: “The conditions look good, especially with temperatures around 15 degrees. The forecast is for wind from the south, meaning athletes will face headwinds between the 15th and 20th kilometers along the Amstel. This could be advantageous as the pacemakers can shield the athletes from the wind.”

In the impressive Spiegelzaal of The Concertgebouw, Philemon Kiplimo was the first to speak. The 26-year-old athlete from Iten, Kenya, ran his best marathon in Berlin (2:04:56), followed by a third-place finish in Hamburg two months later. “Training has gone well, and I feel fit. I expect a good result,” Kiplimo said.

However, Kiplimo must contend with Ethiopia's Tsegaye Getachew, winner of the 2022 TCS Amsterdam Marathon. “Amsterdam changed my life,” said the smiling marathoner, who is eager for a second victory. “I remember not being able to run the last kilometer, but the incredible crowd really carried me.” He spoke highly of Le Champion’s Platinum Label marathon: “I’ve run in Tokyo and Paris, but Amsterdam’s course really suits me. I’ve trained well, and I have two goals: to win and to set a personal best.” His current personal best stands at 2:04:49, while the course record is 2:03:39 (set by Tamirat Tola in 2021).

Choukoud aims for a new record
Khalid Choukoud is brimming with confidence, despite just finishing the Olympic marathon. “A time of 2:15 is something I sometimes run in training,” he said about his time in Paris this past summer. “I’m happy to be back on my familiar course with a great organization that takes care of everything for me. Here, I have everything I need to run a top time. That’s why I love coming to Amsterdam, where I make improvements every time. It would be amazing to break my time of 2:07:37.”

Women’s course cecord within reach
On paper, the women’s course record seems within reach for Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw. The 25-year-old athlete has an incredibly fast time of 2:17:23, just three seconds above the current Amsterdam record (set by Almaz Ayana in 2022). The winner of the 2022 TCS London Marathon had an optimal preparation. “I want to give my best on Sunday, and of course, I’ve come to win. I’m looking forward to the support from the Amsterdam crowd,” she told the press.


Sitting next to her was the cheerful Winfridah Moseti, who set a personal record of 2:18:25 in Hamburg this spring. The Kenyan is optimistic: “Training has gone well, so I expect a good result.”

Marcella Herzog is the fastest Dutch athlete on the starting line at the Olympic Stadium. She, too, has ambitions to break her personal record of 2:33:10. “It’s always hard to make predictions about time,” she said. “But I’m certainly hoping to run two minutes faster.”


Live coverage
The TCS Amsterdam Marathon will be broadcast live on NOS and NH/AT5 on Sunday, October 20. The elite race will start at 9:00 AM in the Olympic Stadium. Live coverage begins at 8:50 AM on NPO1, nos.nl/sport, or via the NOS app. The international marathon will also be broadcast worldwide, including on Discovery+ and Eurosport 2.