Sofia Assefa
ETHWomenSofia Assefa (Amharic: ሶፍአ አሠፋ; born 14 November 1987) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who specializes in the 3,000 metres steeplechase. She was the silver medalist at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
As of Sep 16, 2026: 3000 m steeplechase 9:07.06 (#31 all-time), Marathon 2:23:33 (#336 all-time), 2026 season best 2:31:27 (Mar 15, 2026, Barcelona (ESP)) · Last competition: Zurich Marató de Barcelona, Mar 15, 2026, 2:31:27 · Olympic Games: 1 silver · World Championships: 1 bronze · 38 years old
Personal bests
Medals
| 🥇 | 🥈 | 🥉 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| World Championships | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Total | - | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Performance Charts
Season bests
| Season | Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Trend | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Marathon | 2:31:27 | - | Mar 15, 2026 | ↓ | Zurich Marató de Barcelona |
| 2025 | Marathon | 2:26:21 | - | May 11, 2025 | ↓ | Copenhagen Marathon |
| 2023 | Marathon | 2:23:33 | - | Oct 15, 2023 | ↓ | TCS Amsterdam Marathon |
| 2017 | 3000mSt | 9:07.06 | - | Jun 11, 2017 | ↑ | FBK Stadium, Hengelo (NED) |
| 2017 | 5000m | 14:56.37 | - | May 13, 2017 | ↑ | Shanghai IAAF Diamond League, Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai - Diamond Discipline |
| 2017 | 15Kilometr | 48:56 | - | Nov 19, 2017 | - | Nijmegen (NED) |
| 2017 | 10MilesRoa | 53:13 | - | Sep 17, 2017 | - | Amsterdam (NED) |
| 2016 | 3000mSt | 9:13.09 | - | Aug 27, 2016 | ↑ | Paris Meeting, Stade de France, Paris-St-Denis - Diamond Discipline |
| 2015 | 3000mSt | 9:12.63 | - | Sep 11, 2015 | ↑ | Bruxelles Memorial Van Damme, Boudewijnstadion, Bruxelles - Diamond Discipline |
| 2014 | 3000mSt | 9:11.39 | - | May 31, 2014 | ↑ | Eugene Prefontaine Classic, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR - Diamond Discipline |
| 2013 | 3000mSt | 9:12.84 | - | Aug 13, 2013 | ↑ | IAAF World Championships, Luzhniki Stadion, Moskva |
| 2012 | 3000mSt | 9:09.00 | - | Jun 7, 2012 | ↑ | Oslo ExxonMobil Bislett Games, Bislett Stadion, Oslo - National Events |
| 2011 | 3000mSt | 9:15.04 | - | May 26, 2011 | ↑ | Roma Compeed Golden Gala, Stadio Olimpico, Roma - Promotional Events |
| 2010 | 3000mSt | 9:20.72 | - | Aug 27, 2010 | ↑ | Bruxelles Memorial van Damme, Boudewijnstadion, Bruxelles - EU Cup |
| 2009 | 3000mSt | 9:19.91 | - | Jul 3, 2009 | ↑ | Bislett Stadion, Oslo (NOR) |
| 2009 | 10Kilometr | 33:54 | - | Nov 22, 2009 | - | Addis Ababa (ETH) |
| 2008 | 3000mSt | 9:31.58 | - | Jul 13, 2008 | ↑ | Olympic Stadium, Athina (GRE) |
| 2007 | 1000m | 2:49.79 | - | Jun 20, 2007 | - | Tampere (FIN) |
| 2007 | 2000Metres | 6:33.49 | - | Apr 14, 2007 | - | Benidorm (ESP) |
| 2007 | 3000m | 9:19.93 | - | Jun 21, 2007 | - | Pudasjärvi (FIN) |
| 2007 | 3000mSt | 9:48.46 | - | Jul 28, 2007 | ↑ | Heusden-Zolder (BEL) |
| 2007 | 5000m | 15:59.74 | - | Jul 25, 2007 | ↑ | Naimette-Xhovémont (BEL) |
| 2006 | 3000mSt | 10:17.48 | - | Jul 1, 2006 | ↑ | Bilbao (ESP) |
2026
1 performance| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Marathon | 2:31:27 | - | Mar 15 | Zurich Marató de Barcelona |
2025
2 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Marathon | 2:26:21 | - | Nov 2 | Istanbul Marathon |
Marathon | 2:26:21 | - | May 11 | Copenhagen Marathon |
2024
1 performance| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Marathon | DNF | - | Dec 1 | Maratón Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich |
2023
1 performance| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Marathon | 2:23:33 | - | Oct 15 | TCS Amsterdam Marathon |
2017
10 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
15Kilometr | 48:56 | - | Nov 19 | Nijmegen Zevenheuvelenloop, Nijmegen |
10MilesRoa | 53:13 | - | Sep 17 | Dam tot Damloop, Amsterdam |
3000mSt | 9:16.45 | - | Aug 24 | Weltklasse Zürich, Letzigrund, Zürich - Diamond Discipline |
3000mSt | 9:40.88 | - | Aug 9 | IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Olympic Stadium, London |
3000mSt | 9:40.88 | - | Aug 5 | IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Olympic Stadium, London |
3000mSt | 9:24.39 | - | Jul 1 | Meeting de Paris, Stade Charléty, Paris - Diamond Discipline |
3000mSt | 9:17.34 | - | Jun 15 | Oslo Bislett Games, Bislett Stadion, Oslo - Diamond Discipline |
3000mSt | 9:07.06 | - | Jun 11 | Hengelo FBK Games, FBK Stadium, Hengelo |
5000m | 14:56.37 | - | May 13 | Shanghai IAAF Diamond League, Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai - Diamond Discipline |
3000mSt | 9:15.66 | - | May 5 | Doha IAAF Diamond League, Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha - Regional Races |
2016
10 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
3000mSt | 9:22.09 | - | Sep 1 | Weltklasse Zürich, Letzigrund, Zürich - Diamond Discipline |
3000mSt | 9:13.09 | - | Aug 27 | Paris Meeting, Stade de France, Paris-St-Denis - Diamond Discipline |
3000mSt | 9:18.75 | - | Aug 16 | The XXXI Olympic Games |
3000mSt | 9:17.15 | - | Aug 16 | The XXXI Olympic Games |
3000mSt | 9:17.15 | - | Aug 15 | The XXXI Olympic Games |
3000mSt | 9:18.75 | - | Aug 13 | The XXXI Olympic Games |
3000mSt | 9:27.73 | - | Jun 16 | Stockholm BAUHAUS Galan |
3000mSt | 9:18.53 | - | Jun 9 | Oslo ExxonMobil Bislett Games, Bislett Stadion, Oslo - Diamond Discipline |
3000mSt | 9:18.16 | - | May 28 | Eugene Prefontaine Classic |
3000mSt | 9:21.07 | - | May 14 | Shanghai Golden Grand Prix, Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai - Diamond Discipline |
2015
9 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
3000mSt | 9:51.30 | - | Sep 15 | Brazzaville All-Africa Games, Brazzaville |
3000mSt | 9:12.63 | - | Sep 11 | Bruxelles Memorial Van Damme, Boudewijnstadion, Bruxelles - Diamond Discipline |
3000mSt | 9:20.01 | - | Aug 26 | IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Beijing |
3000mSt | 9:26.47 | - | Aug 24 | IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Beijing |
3000mSt | 9:20.01 | - | Aug 23 | IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Beijing |
3000mSt | 9:26.47 | - | Aug 23 | IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Beijing |
3000mSt | 9:29.78 | - | Jun 7 | Birmingham British Athletics Grand Prix, Alexander Stadium, Birmingham - Promotional Events |
3000mSt | 9:23.04 | - | Jun 4 | Roma Golden Gala - Pietro Mennea, Stadio Olimpico, Roma - Diamond Discipline |
3000mSt | 9:35.32 | - | May 15 | Doha IAAF Diamond League, Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha - Diamond Discipline |
2014
7 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
3000mSt | 9:19.79 | - | Aug 28 | Weltklasse Zürich, Letzigrund, Zürich - Diamond Discipline |
3000mSt | 9:22.02 | - | Aug 21 | Stockholm DN Galan, Olympiastadion, Stockholm - Diamond Discipline |
3000mSt | 9:30.20 | - | Aug 14 | Marrakesh African Championships, Le Grand Stade, Marrakech |
3000mSt | 9:18.71 | - | Jul 5 | Paris Meeting AREVA, Stade de France, Paris-St-Denis - Promotional Events |
3000mSt | 9:18.58 | - | Jun 14 | New York adidas Grand Prix, Icahn Stadium, New York, NY - Promotional Events |
3000mSt | 9:11.39 | - | May 31 | Eugene Prefontaine Classic, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR - Diamond Discipline |
3000mSt | 9:25.76 | - | May 18 | Shanghai Golden Grand Prix |
2013
9 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
3000mSt | 9:15.26 | - | Sep 6 | Bruxelles Memorial Van Damme, Boudewijnstadion, Bruxelles - Promotional Events |
3000mSt | 9:36.66 | - | Aug 15 | IAAF World Championships, Luzhniki Stadion, Moskva |
3000mSt | 9:12.84 | - | Aug 15 | IAAF World Championships, Luzhniki Stadion, Moskva |
3000mSt | 9:12.84 | - | Aug 13 | IAAF World Championships, Luzhniki Stadion, Moskva |
3000mSt | 9:36.66 | - | Aug 10 | IAAF World Championships, Luzhniki Stadion, Moskva |
3000mSt | 9:17.69 | - | Jul 4 | Athletissima Lausanne, Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne - Diamond Discipline |
3000mSt | 9:17.97 | - | Jun 30 | Birmingham Sainsbury's Grand Prix, Alexander Stadium, Birmingham - Diamond Discipline |
3000mSt | 9:21.24 | - | Jun 6 | Roma Golden Gala, Stadio Olimpico, Roma - Diamond Discipline |
3000mSt | 9:33.84 | - | May 25 | New York adidas Grand Prix, Icahn Stadium, New York, NY - Diamond Discipline |
Honours
The XXXI Olympic Games
3000 Metres Steeplechase
Brazzaville All-Africa Games
3000 Metres Steeplechase
IAAF World Championships
3000 Metres Steeplechase
Marrakesh African Championships
3000 Metres Steeplechase
Eugene Prefontaine Classic
3000 Metres Steeplechase
Marrakesh African Championships
3000 Metres Steeplechase
New York adidas Grand Prix
3000 Metres Steeplechase
IAAF World Championships
3000 Metres Steeplechase
The XXX Olympic Games
3000 Metres Steeplechase
IAAF World Championships
3000 Metres Steeplechase
Birmingham AVIVA British Grand Prix
3000 Metres Steeplechase
Nairobi African Championships
3000 Metres Steeplechase
Nairobi African Championships
3000 Metres Steeplechase
Bruxelles Memorial van Damme
3000 Metres Steeplechase
Bruxelles Memorial van Damme
3000 Metres Steeplechase
IAAF/VTB Bank Continental Cup
3000 Metres Steeplechase
Thessaloniki IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final
3000 Metres Steeplechase
Addis Abeba African Championships
3000 Metres Steeplechase
Addis Abeba African Championships
3000 Metres Steeplechase
Frequently asked questions
What is Sofia Assefa's 3000 m steeplechase personal best?
Sofia Assefa's 3000 m steeplechase personal best is 9:07.06, set on Jun 11, 2017 in FBK Stadium, Hengelo (NED), #31 on the all-time list.
Which events does Sofia Assefa compete in?
Sofia Assefa competes in the 3000 m steeplechase and Marathon.
How did Sofia Assefa perform in 2026?
2026 season best: 2:31:27, set on Mar 15, 2026 in Barcelona (ESP). Last competition: Zurich Marató de Barcelona on Mar 15, 2026, 2:31:27.
How many medals has Sofia Assefa won?
Sofia Assefa has won 1 Olympic Games medal and 1 World Championships medal.