Almgren breaks European record by 35 seconds to win gold at World Road Championships
In Copenhagen, Andreas Almgren secured his first senior world title by improving his own European semi-marathon record by 35 seconds. Nicholas Kipkorir and Joshua Cheptegei completed the podium.
Swedish runner Andreas Almgren clinched the semi-marathon title at the World Road Championships in Copenhagen on Sunday, September 20, 2026, finishing in 58:06, a new European record, ahead of Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir.
The two athletes remained neck and neck until the final meters. Almgren made his decisive move in the long final straight, crossing the line five seconds ahead of Kipkorir, who clocked 58:11. Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei secured the bronze medal with a personal best of 58:26.
With his time of 58:06, Almgren shaved 35 seconds off his previous continental record of 58:41, set in Valencia in October 2025. This performance ranks him ninth in the all-time world standings for the distance, according to World Athletics.
This victory marks Almgren’s first senior world title. He had previously won the bronze medal in the 10,000 meters at the 2025 World Championships and triumphed in the 10,000 meters at the European Championships in Birmingham in August 2026.
In Copenhagen, the day began with a world record in the women’s-only race by Agnes Ngetich, who won the semi-marathon in 1:05:15.
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