{{Short description|Ethiopian long-distance runner}} {{Infobox sportsperson | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = Degitu Azimeraw Asires | nationality = Ethiopian | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|1|24|df=yes}} | birth_place = Ethiopia | education = | occupation = long-distance runner | years_active = 2017–present | agent = NN Running Team | height = | weight = | spouse = | other_interests = | country = {{ETH}} | sport = Athletics | event = Marathon, Half marathon, 10,000m, Cross Country | collegeteam = | club = | coach = Tessema Abshero | worlds = | nationals = | olympics = | pb = {{Plainlist| * '''Marathon:''' 2:17:58 (2021) * '''Half marathon:''' 1:06:07 (2019) * '''10,000m:''' 31:03.32 (2019) }} | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Athletics}} {{MedalCountry|{{ETH}}}} {{MedalSilver|2019 African Games|Half marathon}} {{MedalGold|2019 Amsterdam Marathon|Marathon}} {{MedalSilver|2021 London Marathon|Marathon}} {{MedalGold|2024 Barcelona Marathon|Marathon}} }}
'''Degitu Azimeraw Asires''' (born 24 January 1999) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who competes in marathon, half marathon, and track events. She is a silver medalist at the African Games and has achieved podium finishes in World Marathon Majors.
== Career == Degitu Azimeraw began her international career as a teenager, winning the 2017 Tata Steel Kolkata 25K in her first international race with a course record of 1:26:01.<ref name="NNRT_Degitu">{{cite web |url=https://www.nnrunningteam.com/team/degitu-azimeraw/ |title=Degitu Azimeraw |website=NN Running Team |access-date=2025-05-31}}</ref> In 2018, she significantly improved her to 1:06:47 at the RAK Half Marathon and won the Gifu Half Marathon in Japan.<ref name="AthleticsIllustrated_TSK25K">{{cite web |url=https://athleticsillustrated.com/defending-womens-champion-degitu-azimeraw-returns-to-tsk25k-and-faces-two-time-world-champion-florence-kiplagat/ |title=Defending women's champion Degitu Azimeraw returns to TSK25K and faces two-time world champion Florence Kiplagat |website=Athletics Illustrated |date=2018-11-28 |access-date=2025-05-31}}</ref>
In 2019, she further lowered her personal best to 1:06:07 at the RAK Half Marathon.<ref name="WA_Profile_Degitu">{{cite web |url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/ethiopia/degitu-azimeraw-14785042 |title=Degitu AZIMERAW |website=World Athletics |access-date=2025-05-31}}</ref> Representing Ethiopia, she won a silver medal in the women's half marathon at the 2019 African Games in Rabat, Morocco, finishing in 1:10:31.<ref name="AfricanGames_ResultsBook">{{cite web |url=https://www.jar2019.ma/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Athletics-Results-Book.pdf |title=2019 African Games – Athletics – Results Book |publisher=2019 African Games |date=2019-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901235129/https://www.jar2019.ma/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Athletics-Results-Book.pdf |archive-date=2019-09-01 |url-status=dead |format=PDF |access-date=2019-12-27}}</ref> Later that year, in her marathon debut, she won the 2019 Amsterdam Marathon in a course record time of 2:19:26, which was the second fastest debut marathon time for a woman in history.<ref name="WatchAthletics_Amsterdam">{{cite web |url=https://watchathletics.com/read/1257/degitu-azimeraw-breaks-amsterdam-marathon-course-record-with-2-19-26-on-her-debut |title=Degitu Azimeraw Breaks Amsterdam Marathon Course Record With 2:19:26 On Her Debut |website=Watch Athletics |date=2019-10-20 |access-date=2019-12-27}}</ref><ref name="NNRT_Degitu"/>
In 2020, Azimeraw competed at the 2020 RAK Half Marathon, placing ninth with 1:07:02, and finished sixth at the 2020 Valencia Marathon in 2:19:56.<ref name="NNRT_Degitu"/> In 2021, she set a new personal best of 2:17:58 to finish second at the 2021 London Marathon, placing her 11th on the all-time list at the time.<ref name="NNRT_Degitu"/> She also won the 10K at the Nationale Nederlanden San Silvestre in Madrid with a time of 30:26.
After a period of time away for family in 2022-2023, Azimeraw returned to competition.{{cn|date=May 2025}} In March 2024, she emerged victorious at the 2024 Barcelona Marathon, clocking 2:19:52 in her first marathon post-pregnancy, leading an Ethiopian podium sweep.<ref name="AthleticsAfrica_Barcelona">{{cite web |url=https://www.athletics.africa/news/africa/ethiopia/azimeraw-and-abraham-triumph-in-barcelona-17895 |title=Azimeraw and Abraham triumph in Barcelona |website=Athletics Africa |date=2024-03-10 |access-date=2025-05-31}}</ref> She competed at the 2025 Tokyo Marathon, finishing eighth with a time of 2:20:26.<ref name="LetsRun_Tokyo2025">{{cite web |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2025/03/2025-tokyo-marathon-results/ |title=Race Recap: 6 Thoughts on 2025 Tokyo Marathon |website=LetsRun.com |date=2025-03-01 |access-date=2025-05-31}}</ref><ref name="Olympics_Tokyo2025">{{cite web |url=https://www.olympics.com/en/news/tokyo-marathon-2025-results |title=Tokyo Marathon 2025: All results and times - complete list |website=Olympics.com |access-date=2025-05-31}}</ref>
== Achievements == {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; " !Year !Race !Place !Position !Time |- |2017 |Tata Steel Kolkata 25K |Kolkata |1st |1:26:01 (CR)<ref name="AthleticsIllustrated_TSK25K"/> |- |2018 |RAK Half Marathon |Ras Al Khaimah |6th |1:06:47 (WJR) |- |2018 |Gifu Half Marathon |Gifu |1st |1:09:53 |- |2019 |RAK Half Marathon |Ras Al Khaimah |4th |1:06:07 (PB)<ref name="WA_Profile_Degitu"/> |- |2019 |2019 African Games |Rabat |2nd |1:10:31<ref name="AfricanGames_ResultsBook"/> |- |2019 |Amsterdam Marathon |Amsterdam |1st |2:19:26 (CR, PB)<ref name="WatchAthletics_Amsterdam"/> |- |2020 |RAK Half Marathon |Ras Al Khaimah |9th |1:07:02<ref name="NNRT_Degitu"/> |- |2020 |Valencia Marathon |Valencia |6th |2:19:56<ref name="NNRT_Degitu"/> |- |2021 |2021 London Marathon |London |2nd |2:17:58 (PB)<ref name="NNRT_Degitu"/> |- |2021 |Nationale Nederlanden San Silvestre Vallecana 10K |Madrid |1st |30:26<ref name="NNRT_Degitu"/> |- |2024 |Barcelona Marathon |Barcelona |1st |2:19:52<ref name="AthleticsAfrica_Barcelona"/> |- |2025 |2025 Tokyo Marathon |Tokyo |8th |2:20:26<ref name="LetsRun_Tokyo2025"/> |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{World Athletics profile|id=14785042|name=Degitu Azimeraw}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Azimeraw, Degitu}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:Ethiopian women long-distance runners Category:Ethiopian women marathon runners Category:21st-century Ethiopian sportswomen Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2019 African Games Category:African Games silver medalists for Ethiopia Category:African Games silver medalists in athletics (track and field) Category:African Games athletes for Ethiopia