adidas announced on 20 October 2026 that world champion Tamirat Tola set a new record for the fastest men’s marathon in China with a time of 2 hours 03 minutes 10 seconds at the 2026 Beijing Marathon and National Marathon Championships, becoming the champion of the North Marathon course. The event took place on 18 October, with adidas athletes sweeping the top three positions in the men’s category, while Anchinalu Dessie claimed victory in the women’s category, showcasing the brand’s strength.
Event Highlights and Record-Breaking Performance
Tola’s outstanding performance not only broke the North Marathon course record but also set a new fastest men’s marathon record in China. On the course, Xu Shuangshuang and Yang Yiting finished their personal marathon debuts with times of 2 hours 28 minutes 25 seconds and 2 hours 28 minutes 47 seconds respectively, demonstrating the potential and fighting spirit of Chinese athletes.
Sabastian Sawe's First Visit to China and Launch of the 'Cultivator Programme'
On the eve of the event, men’s marathon world record holder Sabastian Sawe visited China for the first time and held a public long-distance running cultural exchange event at the Temple of Heaven on 17 October. The event, themed ‘Temple of Heaven Timing: Cultivating Runners’, officially launched the adidas Marathon ‘Cultivator Programme’, aimed at selecting Chinese runners to train at a professional training base in Kenya, enhancing their training and exchange.
During the event, Sawe shared his philosophy on time and cultivation, encouraging runners with the phrase ‘You reap what you sow’, urging them to maintain patience and perseverance in their pursuit of breakthroughs.
Technological Innovations in the ADIZERO Series
adidas’s ADIZERO series performed exceptionally well in this event, with Tola wearing the ADIZERO ADIOS PRO EVO 3 running shoes that helped him break the record. The innovative technology in this series not only enhances athletes’ performance but has also achieved excellent results in various international competitions, making it the preferred choice for marathon runners worldwide.
Through close collaboration with top athletes, adidas continues to advance running technology and is committed to providing athletes with the best competitive gear.