Andreas Almgren Wins New York Marathon as Martín Fiz Retires

Swedish runner Andreas Almgren secured victory at the New York City Marathon, marking a generational shift as Spanish distance running legend Martín Fiz completed his final 42-kilometer race. The event in Central Park highlighted the contrast between the 31-year-old winner and the 63-year-old veteran finishing his career.

A Final Run

Martín Fiz, the 1995 world champion, chose the New York course for his farewell marathon. He ran alongside his son, Alex, who was making his debut at the distance. Fiz, 63, noted that while he lacked the physical strength of his prime years, he insisted on a challenging pace for his son.

“We could have gone at 3 hours and 30 minutes and enjoyed it,” Fiz said, citing muscle loss due to age. “But it is better to enjoy suffering, because that is life—effort, sacrifice.”

The pair faced difficult inclines along Fifth Avenue and 59th Street. They narrowly missed their sub-three-hour goal, finishing just over a minute past the mark. Alex crossed the line in 3:01:11, with his father finishing two seconds later.

Looking Ahead

The race served as a symbolic handover. While Almgren’s performance signaled a new era for European distance running, the veteran Fiz used the occasion to conclude a decades-long career that significantly increased the popularity of marathon running in Spain.

Why it matters: This event marks the end of a significant era for Spanish athletics as Martín Fiz, a pioneer who popularized the marathon, retires from competitive racing. The race serves as a reminder of the sport’s enduring nature, bridging the gap between established legends and the next generation of international competitors.