Which runner set the women’s marathon world record of 2:15:25 in 2003?

Paula Radcliffe set the women’s marathon world record of 2:15:25 in 2003.

Radcliffe ran 2:15:25 at the 2003 London Marathon, improving the mark she had set in Chicago the previous year. The performance became one of the defining achievements of her career and stood as the women’s world record for many years.

Radcliffe’s 2003 London run was recorded in a women-only race. Her earlier 2002 Chicago performance, 2:17:18, had been the first time a woman broke 2:18. The distinction between women-only and mixed-race records has sometimes caused confusion in discussions of marathon records.

Tigist Assefa later ran faster than 2:15:25, so Radcliffe is best identified specifically with the 2003 record rather than the current record.