Assefa Targets Another Women-Only World Record at 2026 TCS London Marathon
The Swiss star is eyeing another fast time here after setting a new course record (1:34:18) in 2025 to claim her third TCS London Marathon title.
Catherine Debrunner will reignite her rivalry with Eden Rainbow-Cooper in London this weekend, motivated by the Brit’s fearless racing just six days ago to claim her second Boston Marathon title.
The Swiss star is eyeing another fast time here after setting a new course record (1:34:18) in 2025 to claim her third TCS London Marathon title.
Debrunner finished more than two minutes behind Rainbow-Cooper in Boston on Monday and praised the Brit’s “crazy” approach to the downhill sections.
“Boston has been only my second time this year and it's definitely a challenging course because of the big hills, especially the downhill, but I'm super proud of how I manage this course this year,” Debrunner said.
“I was so scared, but I faced my fear and I was really proud and I knew that my team-mate Eden is crazy downhill and she loves it.
“She's just so strong. It's really one of her biggest weapons and it's so nice to see her going down like crazy.”
Debrunner said the healthy competition between the elite women wheelchair racers was good for the sport as she looks to respond on Sunday in London on a course more suited to her.
Among the other challengers will be fellow Swiss Manuela Schär, who is one of the greatest marathon wheelchair racers of all time, with more than 20 Abbott World Marathon Major victories to her name including three wins in London.
As well as Australia’s Madison de Rozario, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic champion, two-time winner of the London Marathon, in 2018 and 2023, and reigning Commonwealth Games champion.
Debrunner said: “I really see that as a motivation, though, and it's so fun to see how competitive our field is. It makes it very interesting for us, for the spectator, and it really helps you to go to your limit.
“We train together quite often and it's fun to challenge each other, to make fun of each other, but then in the race, we can push each other to new limits. And I think that's amazing to bring our sport further.”
Debrunner didn’t rule out breaking her world-record time (1:34:16, set at the 2023 BMW Berlin Marathon) after falling agonisingly short in London last year.
“I don't say that it's not possible, after last year, but I don't want to put that much pressure on me. Of course, I go fast. I want to see what I can do on Sunday.
“But first priority is for me to execute well, to show that I have worked really hard during winter, and I feel very well, and I'm feeling really excited to race here in the streets of London.”
Rainbow-Cooper is on a good run of form at Abbott World Marathon Majors, having finished runner-up at the 2025 Sydney Marathon and 2026 Tokyo Marathon and third at the 2025 BMW Berlin Marathon.
“The way that I approach training in my racing has changed quite significantly in the last 12 months,” the 24-year-old said. “And I'm finally in a place where I sort of understand more about what works for me, and that's been massive help.”
On the quick turnaround between Boston and London, she said: “The preparation has already been done. You're not going to gain anything, or at least I'm not gaining anything by working hard or training hard in these five days in between.
“So, it's just about eating right, hydrating and just, you know, resting, recovering, and more about getting my head in the right place to be on that Start Line on Sunday again.”
