Sweden's Andreas Almgren stuns field to win NYC Marathon in historic 26.2-mile debut
The Swedish runner had never competed over 26.2 miles before Sunday
Andreas Almgren had never raced a full marathon before arriving in New York, but the Swedish distance runner needed just one attempt to establish himself among the world's leading competitors over 26.2 miles.
The 31-year-old produced a remarkable performance at Sunday's New York City Marathon , defeating several established marathon specialists to claim victory in 2 hours, 6 minutes and 1 second.
Almgren remained patient throughout the demanding five-borough course before making his decisive move during the closing stages in Central Park, leaving Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa unable to respond.
Crippa finished 13 seconds behind the winner, while Lesotho's Kamohelo Mofolo secured third place ahead of defending champion Benson Kipruto , who narrowly missed the podium.
The victory made Almgren the first Swedish runner to win the men's race and the first European-born champion in New York since 1996, completing a remarkable transition from middle-distance athletics.
"I've probably never felt so emotional after a race ever," Almgren said following his victory, reflecting on a performance that exceeded expectations even after his recent success over shorter distances.
Almgren 's triumph represents another milestone in a career that nearly ended prematurely because of persistent injuries during his early years as a professional athlete.
The Swede initially competed over 800 meters, winning bronze at the 2014 World Junior Championships, before repeated stress fractures encouraged him to move toward longer distances.
His progress eventually accelerated, producing a European 5,000-meter record in Stockholm in 2025 before he claimed bronze over 10,000 meters at the World Championships in Tokyo.
During 2026, Almgren added the European 10,000-meter title and the world half-marathon championship to his achievements, establishing himself as one of the most versatile distance runners in international athletics.
Speaking before his marathon debut, Almgren explained why New York's demanding course suited his strengths despite its reputation for challenging even experienced competitors.
"It fits me coming from the track that New York is usually quite slow the first half, and then it's progressively faster. In road races, I'm a good kicker," he told The Athletic.
That assessment proved accurate as his finishing speed ultimately separated him from runners with considerably greater marathon experience.
Sheila Chepkirui claims second NYC Marathon title
The women's race produced an equally dramatic conclusion, with Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui overcoming defending champion Hellen Obiri to secure her second New York City Marathon victory.
Chepkirui , who previously won in 2024, accelerated during the final 150 meters and crossed the finish line in 2:24:36 after a fiercely contested battle.
American Jessica McClain then overtook Obiri in the closing strides to finish second, six seconds behind Chepkirui , becoming the first American woman to reach the New York podium since 2018.
Sunday's event marked the 50th anniversary of the marathon's expansion across all five New York boroughs, with approximately 60,000 participants taking part.
Yet Almgren 's achievement provided the defining storyline, transforming what began as an ambitious first attempt at the distance into a historic victory against some of the world's most accomplished marathon runners.
