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| Sydney Marathon | |
|---|---|
 Sydney Opera House near the finish line in 2005 | |
| Date | September |
| Location | Sydney, Australia |
| Event type | Road |
| Distance | Marathon (also 10 km, 4.2 km) |
| Primary sponsor | TCS |
| Established | 2001 (24 years ago) (2001) |
| Course records | Men's:2:06:18 (2024) Brimin KipkorirWomen's:2:21:41 (2024)  Workenesh Edesa |
| Official site | Sydney Marathon |
| Participants | 20,284 finishers (2024)[1] |
TheSydney Marathon is amarathon held annually inSydney, Australia each September. The event was first held on the 30th of April 2000 and called The Host City Marathon as a test event for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, and has continued every year since, as a legacy of the2000 Summer Olympics.[2] The marathon is categorized as aPlatinum Label Road Race byWorld Athletics, and from 2025, as part of theWorld Marathon Majors[3][4][5]
The Sydney Marathon also includes a10K run, and a 4.2 km (2.6 mi) race.[6]
The Sydney Marathon started in April 2000, following the same course as themarathon during the 2000 Summer Olympics.[3][7] The women's race in 2001 was won byKrishna Stanton, who had never run a marathon before, and was doing the event as a result of a challenge from a friend.[7]
In 2014 the marathon was awarded aSilver Label Road Race by theInternational Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), then in December 2014 the race was awarded aGold Label Road Race[8] in time for the 2015 race and it is now aPlatinum Label Road Race.[3]
The 2020 in-person edition of the race was cancelled due to thecoronavirus pandemic, with all entries automatically transferred to 2021, and all registrants given the option of also running the race virtually for free.[a][10][11]Moses Kibet won the 2022 race in 2:07:02, a new course record, and the fastest marathon time run on Australian soil.[3]
In July 2022, organisers of the race announced that they were applying to be added to the list ofWorld Marathon Majors.[3] Following the 2023 event, Sydney Marathon achieved a pass, and moved forward to the next assessment step in becoming a World Marathon Major.[12] The marathon was confirmed as the seventh major on 4 November 2024 following the 2024 race.[5]
The marathon course initially followed the same course that was used in the 2000 Summer Olympics.[7]
In 2010 the marathon course was changed to flatten it out which, according to the organisers, makes it "a faster, more scenic and spectator friendly course."[13]
The marathon runs on a point-to-point course that begins in Bradfield Park,Milsons Point, crosses over theSydney Harbour Bridge, and ends in front of theSydney Opera House.[3][14]
To date, eight runners have competed in every Sydney Marathon, and have been dubbed "Blue Line Legends".[15]
In addition, runners who have completed at least 10 marathons are eligible to be inducted into the Bridge Club.[16][b]
In addition to the marathon, ahalf marathon, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) "Bridge Run", and a 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) "Family Fun Run" are also held under the banner of the Sydney Running Festival.[17]
The Bridge Run was added in 2002, initially as a 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) event, before being reduced to 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) in 2005. The Bridge Run has since returned to being an AIMS certified 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) distance.
All the races finish at theSydney Opera House, except for the fun run, which ends at theSydney Conservatorium of Music less than a kilometre from the Opera House.[6]
Key: Course record
|
|
| Country | Total | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya | 17 | 13 | 4 |
| Ethiopia | 9 | 1 | 8 |
 Japan | 8 | 4 | 4 |
 Australia | 5 | 0 | 5 |
 New Zealand | 2 | 1 | 1 |
 Tanzania | 2 | 2 | 0 |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
