Yalemzerf Yehualaw overcame a fall to win in record time.
(Mike Owen/Getty Images)
(CNN) --
With about nine kilometers remaining, Yalemzerf Yehualaw's race seemed to have been ruined after the Ethiopian was left lying on the road after hitting a pothole.
The incident caused him to lose time on his rivals and he later admitted that the fall "hurt" him.
But that didn't stop the 23-year-old from making history on Sunday as she finally crossed the line first to become the youngest winner of the London Marathon.
The 2022 London Marathon will host the biggest prize wheelchair race in history
Her victory, in two hours, 17 minutes and 25 seconds, was the third fastest time ever in the women's race, the fastest debut time ever and an Ethiopian record.
Yehualaw, who had only run his first competitive marathon in April, made his breakaway with six kilometers to go and posted a remarkable pace "of 4:43 miles at mile 24."
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2021 champion Joyciline Jepkosgei finished 41 seconds behind in second while Ethiopia's Alemu Megertu was third.
(L to R) Joyciline Jepkosgei, runner-up from Kenya, winner Yalemzerf Yehualaw from Ethiopia, third place Alemu Megertu from Ethiopia celebrate at the finish line.
(Credit: Glyn/Kirk/AFP/Getty Images)
In the men's race, Kenya's Amos Kipruto won for the first time, posting a time of two hours, four minutes and 39 seconds.
Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner set new records in the field by taking the men's and women's wheelchair titles, respectively.
Marathon