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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Sean Ingle at the Japan National Stadium

Simbu snatches world marathon gold from Petros in historic photo-finish

Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu (left) wins the men’s marathon after a sprint finish at the World Athletics Championships
Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu (left) wins the men’s marathon after a sprint finish at the World Athletics Championships. Photograph: Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images

One of the most dramatic finales in marathon history ended with one athlete diving for the line, another unsure of the result, and Seiko’s photo-finish machine being called into emergency action.

After 26.2 miles, and more than two hours of sweat and brutal toil, the print confirmed that Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu had pipped Germany’s Amanal Petros in a sprint finish.

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