{{short description|Tanzanian long-distance runner}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Alphonce Felix Simbu | image = 2017 London Marathon - Alphonce Simbu (cropped).jpg | caption = Simbu at the 2017 London Marathon | nationality = Tanzanian | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|2|14|df=yes}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | height = | weight = 55kg | country = Tanzania | sport = Track and field | event = Marathon | collegeteam = | club = | team = | turnedpro = | coach = | retired = | coaching = | worlds = | regionals = | nationals = | olympics = | highestranking = | pb = 2:02:47 | show-medals = yes | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's athletics}} {{MedalCountry|{{TAN}}}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalGold|2025 Tokyo|Marathon}} {{MedalBronze|2017 London|Marathon}} {{ medal | Comp | World Marathon Majors }} {{ medal | S |2025 Boston|Marathon}} {{ medal | S |2026 Boston|Marathon}} {{MedalCompetition|Commonwealth Games}} {{MedalSilver|2022 Birmingham|Marathon}} }} '''Alphonce Felix Simbu''' (born 14 February 1992) is a Tanzanian long-distance runner who specialises in the marathon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/tanzania/alphonce-felix-simbu-287379 |title=Alphonce Felix Simbu |publisher=IAAF |date=22 August 2015| accessdate=22 August 2015}}</ref> He is the reigning World Champion in marathon, having won the title at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, thus becoming the first Tanzanian athlete to win a gold medal at the World Championships or the Olympics.<ref> {{cite web |title=Simbu takes Tanzania's first global title with marathon victory in Tokyo |url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-championships/tokyo25/news/report/world-championships-tokyo-25-report-mens-marathon |website=World Athletics.org |access-date=15 September 2025}}</ref>
==Career== Simbu competed in the marathon event at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics in Beijing, China.
Simbu competed for Tanzania at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the men's marathon. He finished 5th with a time of 2:11.15.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rio2016.com/en/athletics-standings-at-mens-marathon |title=Rio 2016 |website=Rio 2016 |access-date=24 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908024135/https://www.rio2016.com/en/athletics-standings-at-mens-marathon |archive-date= 8 September 2016 |df= }}</ref> He was the flag bearer for Tanzania during the closing ceremony.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/news/the-flagbearers-for-the-rio-2016-closing-ceremony|title=The Flagbearers for the Rio 2016 Closing Ceremony|date=21 August 2016|access-date=24 August 2016}}</ref>
Simbu won the 14th edition of the Mumbai Marathon on 15 January 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report-mumbai-marathon-simbu-sizzles-2292901|title=Simbu sizzles: Tanzanian overcomes stiff challenge from second-placed Kipkorir to win elite full marathon - Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis|date=16 January 2017|publisher=|accessdate=16 January 2017}}</ref> The same year he won the bronze medal at the 2017 World Athletics Championships Marathon with a time of 2:09:51.
In 2019, Simbu competed in the men's marathon at the 2019 World Athletics Championships held in Doha, Qatar.<ref name="men_marathon_results_world_championships_2019">{{cite web|url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/6033/AT-MAR-M-f----.RS6.pdf|title=Marathon Men − Final − Results|publisher=IAAF|date=5 October 2019|accessdate=6 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627234043/https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/6033/AT-MAR-M-f----.RS6.pdf|archive-date=27 June 2020}}</ref> He finished in 16th place.<ref name="men_marathon_results_world_championships_2019"/>
In June 2021, Simbu qualified to represent Tanzania at the 2020 Summer Olympics where he secured 7th place with a time of 2:11:35.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Only three athletes to represent Tanzania at Tokyo Olympic games|url=https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/sports/only-three-athletes-to-represent-tanzania-at-tokyo-olympic-games-3419354|access-date=20 June 2021|website=The Citizen|language=en}}</ref>
Simbu won a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the men's marathon event.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marathon - Men's Marathon |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/commonwealth-games/62360812 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=30 July 2022}}</ref>
In December 2024, Simbu finished 4th in Valencia Marathon and set his personal best at 2:04:38.<ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/competitiondownload/competition?filename=AT-MAR-M-f----.RS6.pdf&path=%5Cpdf%5C4875%5C&urlslug=marathon-Official%20Results&updatedOn=08%2F22%2F2015%2002%3A43%3A14 Final Results]</ref>
Simbu finished second in the 2025 Boston Marathon, in a time of 2:05:04.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2025/04/21/boston-marathon-2025-updates-results-tracking-highlights/83188287007/ |title=Boston Marathon 2025 live: Race updates, highlights, results of 129th running |first=Tom |last=Schad |website=USA Today |date=April 21, 2025 |accessdate=April 21, 2025}}</ref>
In 2025, Simbu became the first Tanzanian to win a gold medal in a world marathon championship after finishing first in the World Championships Marathon in Japan with a photo-finish win.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 September 2025 |title=First-ever Tanzanian gold as Simbu dips past Petros in world marathon |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250915-first-ever-tanzanian-gold-as-simbu-dips-past-petros-in-world-marathon |access-date=15 September 2025 |website=France 24 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Simbu again finished second in the 2026 Boston Marathon, in a time of 2:02:47.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{sisterlinks | d = Q20988443 | c = Category:Alphonce Simbu | n = no | b = no | v = no | voy = no | m = no | mw = no | s = no | wikt = no | species = no | q = no }}
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{{Footer World Champions Marathon Men}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simbu, Alphonce Felix}} Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:Tanzanian men long-distance runners Category:Tanzanian men marathon runners Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Tanzania Category:Olympic athletes for Tanzania Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2016 Summer Olympics Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:World Athletics Championships medalists Category:World Athletics Championships winners Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2022 Commonwealth Games Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Tanzania Category:21st-century Tanzanian people Category:Medallists at the 2022 Commonwealth Games Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2024 Summer Olympics Category:21st-century Tanzanian sportsmen Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists in athletics