Andreas Almgren wins the New York City Marathon in his debut at the distance

Andreas Almgren made his debut in the New York City Marathon last year but chose to compete in the event again this year. The Swedish half-marathon specialist emerged victorious in the 26.2-mile race on Sunday, clocking a third-fastest time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 1 second. This performance was 13 seconds quicker than second-place finisher Yemaneberhan Crippa of Italy, who also marked his New York City Marathon debut.

In the year leading up to the event, Almgren contemplated his long-term plans and realized that participating in the marathon was a wise decision. He attended the race three times last year, stopping by Brooklyn around Mile 8, then witnessing the crowd as the runners crossed the Manhattan Bridge, and finally, Central Park to catch the final miles.

It was during the closing stages in Central Park that Almgren sensed he had a chance to win the race. He became the first Swedish runner to claim victory in the New York City Marathon. Before dedicating himself to full-time running, Almgren worked as a risk analyst at a financial firm and later as a data scientist for a sports technology software company.

A stress fracture prematurely ended his hopes of competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, leading him to quit his job and focus solely on running. In 2025, he achieved a record-breaking year, winning the Valencia Half Marathon in 58 minutes and 41 seconds, becoming the first non-African-born runner to break the 59-minute mark. Weather conditions in New York on Sunday were ideal, with temperatures in the mid-50s Fahrenheit for the race.

Almgren led six other runners during the first part of the competition, finishing with a commanding lead.