World Championship 2025: Aphonce Simbu, Josephat Gisemo to Carry Tanzanian Hearts in Tokyo

Tanzania's hopes of adding a third medal in the history of the World Athletics Championships are in the hands of just two athletes, Aphonce Simbu and Josephat Gisemo who will compete in the competition starting September 13 this year in Tokyo, Japan.

Initially, Tanzania had hoped to fly its flag with four athletes, but those plans were dashed after the Women's Marathon champion, Magdalena Shauri and Failuna Abdi Matanga, failed to participate due to delays in gender testing required by the World Association of Athletics Federations (WA).

Simbu returns to Tokyo with the memory of finishing seventh at the 2020 Olympics in a time of 2:11:35, but more importantly with the history of winning the bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships in London, England, using 2:09:51.

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The Tanzania People's Army (JWTZ) star is heading to Japan with a record of 2:04:38 from the Valencia marathon last year and second place at the Boston marathon in 2:05:04 in April this year.

Gisemo of the Police Force is entering Tokyo for the first time, carrying the time of 2:10:23 he achieved at the Geneva marathon, Switzerland last year, and is considered a new winning card for Tanzania.

The President of the Athletics Federation of Tanzania (RT), Rogath John Stephen Akhwari, said the competition is similar to the Soccer World Cup because it brings together the best runners in the world, but he believes Simbu and Gisemo can give them another joy.

Akhwari, who participated in five World Championships between 2001 and 2009 in the 5000 and 10,000 meters, added that the final preparations of the athletes must be focused.

“This is not a time for hard training, this is a time to rest and get mentally ready before the real battle”, said Akhwari.

Former international athlete, Zakia Mrisho, who participated in the race from 2003 to 2011 running the 5000 meters, has also expressed her hopes for the stars, believing that with the preparations they are making, they will return with a medal.

“I believe Simbu and Gisemo can give us new history considering Simbu gave us a bronze medal in 2017”, said Mrisho.

Tanzania boasts only two medals since it first participated in the competition in 1983 in Helsinki, Finland, represented by some stars including Gidamis Shahanga, Zakaria Barie and Abraham Mikumi.

The first medal is a silver medal which was won in 2005 in Helsinki, Finland by Christopher Isengwe who finished second in the long race with a time of 2:10:21.

The other is a bronze from Alphonce Simbu in 2017 in London, England with a time of 2:09:51.

Additional Information: Olaka Kennedy Lucas