In a truly rare and electrifying moment for long-distance running, the marathon final of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo delivered an almost unprecedented photo finish on Tuesday. This gruelling 26.2-mile race, which typically sees clear winners, culminated in a sprint finish so close it captivated athletics fans worldwide and was decided by mere millimetres.

The protagonists of this historic showdown were Tanzania's Alphonce Simbu and Germany's Amanal Petros, both top contenders for the title. As the race unfolded, Petros established and maintained a significant lead, appearing destined for victory. However, in a display of extraordinary resolve, Simbu, against all odds, managed to unleash a final, Hollywood-esque sprint in the closing stages, defying expectations.

Upon crossing the line, the finish was so tight that initial observations suggested both men had finished simultaneously. Attention quickly turned to Seiko's sophisticated photo-finish technology, which ultimately determined Simbu had edged out Petros by a minuscule 0.03 seconds. Remarkably, both athletes were officially clocked with the exact same time of 2:09:48, a gap even narrower than those seen in the men's and women's 100m finals.

The dramatic footage of the race's climax spread like wildfire across social media platforms, drawing widespread awe and comments from athletics enthusiasts. Reactions included exclamations like, "This is the most insane finish to a marathon you’ll ever see," and observations such as, "Talk about squeezing out everything you have left!" Some viewers noted Petros's glance back as a potential factor, while others described the event as "Mind-boggling."

Reflecting on his incredible victory, Alphonce Simbu shared his mindset: "I told myself I was not going to give up. When we entered the stadium, I was not sure if I would win. I did not know if I won. But when I saw the video screens and me on the top of the results, I felt relieved.” Amanal Petros, despite his disappointment, acknowledged the unique nature of the race, stating, “I have never seen something like this in a marathon. It’s like the 100 metres. Coming into the finish, I was thinking about winning so a bit of me is feeling very sad. But I have to accept it. As an athlete, you have to learn for tomorrow, train hard, keep going and be thankful for the silver.” This extraordinary final in Tokyo will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most thrilling and closest finishes in marathon history.