Elite Men's Biographies

Born: 23 February 1979    

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 47 years 2 months 3 days 

Marathon best: 1:22:09 – Boston 2017   

London Marathon record: 2008 – 9th 1:37:26, 2009 – 8th 1:37:38, 2010 – 12th 2:14:22, 2012 – 15th 1:40:01, 2013 – 21st 1:45:27, 2014 – 13th 1:36:45, 2015 – 29th 1:54:23, 2016 – 11th 1:38:35, 2017 – 5th 1:31:09, 2018 – 17th 1:36:10, 2019 – 21st 1:48:47, 2021 – 16th 1:42:02, 2022 – 19th 1:41:49, 2023 – 18th 1:39:50, 2024 – 13th 1:37:07, 2025 – 16th 1:38:42  

Notes: Botello is the Spanish record holder for the marathon. He injured his spine in a bicycle accident in 2002 and started racing in 2003.     

Born: 15 November 1984    

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 41 years 5 months 11 days 

Marathon best: 1:18:25 – Boston 2012    

London Marathon record: 2010 – 1st 1:35:21, 2011 – 5th 1:30:56, 2012 – 9th 1:33:54, 2013 – DNF, 2014 – 20th 1:41:58, 2015 – DNF, 2016 – DNF, 2017 – 22nd 1:34:46, 2018 – 9th 1:31:41, 2019 – 18th 1:41:43     

Notes: Cassidy won his only London Marathon title to date in 2010, which was his debut in the race. His other major marathon win came in Boston in 2012 when he set the fastest wheelchair marathon time ever (1:18:25). However, as the time was set in Boston, it is not an official record – as the course is ineligible for records due to the gradient. The eldest of 10 siblings, Cassidy was diagnosed with cancer of the spine and abdomen weeks after he was born and given a low chance of survival. He is a professional graphic designer and illustrator.  

Born: 22 May 2003  

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 22 years 11 months 4 days 

Marathon best: 1:26:17  

London Marathon record: 2023 – 9th 1:35:14, 2024 – 9th 1:36:59, 2025 – 11th 1:34:17  

Notes:  Correll is one of the most decorated Iowa high school track athletes of all time, is a top finisher in some of the nation’s most prominent marathons and was a member of Team USA in the 2023 Parapan American Games. He has raced in London three times, breaking the top 10 twice. 

Born: 9 November 1996   

Age on Marathon Day: 29 years 5 months 17 days  

Marathon best: 1:34:18 – London 2025  

London Marathon record: 2017 – 38th 01:53:43, 2018 – 41st 01:53:19, 2019 – 25th 01:55:10, 2021 – 14th 01:37:18, 2022 – 13th 01:37:09, 2023 – 15th 1:38:43, 2025 – 12th 01:34:18  

Marathons in major championships: Commonwealth 2022 – 2nd 1:45:49   

Notes: Scotland’s Frame came second in his first international marathon in 2022 at the Commonwealth Games. Other notable results include first place finishes in the 2021 Great North Run and Leeds Half Marathon. He started competing in para athletics in 2015.   

Born: 30 March 1974    

Age on Marathon Day: 52 years 0 months 27 days 

Marathon best: 1:21:14 – Boston 2014   

London Marathon record: 2010 – 4th 1:40:59, 2011 – DNF, 2012 – 10th 1:36:00, 2013 – 6th 1:31:31, 2014 – 4th 1:32:43, 2015 – 7th 1:32:22, 2016 – 8th 1:35:37, 2017 – 6th 1:31:09, 2018 – 12th 1:33:32, 2020 – 6th 1:36:11, 2021 – 9th 1:35:56, 2022 – 12th 1:34:22 , 2024 – 19th 1:42:07, 2025 – 8th 1:34:08  

Notes: The 2014 Berlin and 2015 Tokyo Marathon champion. ‘Hoki’ injured his spine in a motorcycle accident in March 2000 and began racing in 2002.  

Born: 16 January 1986   

Age on Marathon Day: 40 years 3 months 10 days 

Marathon best: 1:15:33, Boston 2024   

London Marathon record: 2010 – 2nd 1:36:07, 2011 – 11th 1:35:35, 2012 – 2nd 1:32:27, 2013 – 2nd 1:31:29, 2014 – 1st 1:32:41, 2015 – DNF, 2016 – 1st 1:35:19, 2017 – 2nd 1:31:07, 2018 – 2nd 1:31:15, 2019 – 2nd 1:33:42, 2020 – 3rd 1:36:08, 2021 – 1st 1:26:27, 2022 - 1st 1:24:38, 2023 – 1st 1:23:48 , 2024 – 1st 1:24:38, 2025 – 1st 1:25:25  

Other Abbott World Marathon Majors victories: 4 x Tokyo (2019, 2022, 2023, 2026), 8 x Boston (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025), 8 x Berlin (2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021,2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), 6 x Chicago (2016, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), 7 x New York (2013, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025), 1 x Sydney (2025) 

Marathons in major championships: Paralympics: 2008 – DNF, 2012 – 2nd 1:30:21, 2016 – 1st 1:26:16, 2020 – 1st 1:24:02, 2024 – 1st 1:27:39; Worlds: 2006 – 4th 1:29:57, 2011 – DNF, 2013 – 1st 1:28:44, 2015 – DNF, 2019 – 2nd 1:33:42   

Notes: Hug is the greatest marathon wheelchair racer in history. A three-time Paralympic marathon champion, Hug has won more Abbott World Marathon Major races than anyone else in history, with his tally currently standing at 34. A win in London this year would be his sixth consecutive win in London and his eight overall which would pull him level with David Weir as the most successful athlete in London Marathon history. He was born with spina bifida and grew up on a farm in Pfyn, Thurgau. He started competing aged 10. He is nicknamed the ‘Silver Bullet’ due to his shiny helmet.   

Born: 20 October 1999 

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 26 years 6 months 6 days 

Marathon best: Unknown 

London Marathon record: N/A 

Notes: China’s Jin Hula has not competed on the Abbott World Marathon Majors circuit before but he has made a big impact in global championships in the past two years. He won gold medals in the 800m and 1,500m at the 2024 Paralympic Games and won a silver medal in the marathon (behind Marcel Hug). He followed that up with two gold medals at the 2025 World Championships in the 800m and 1,500m.  

Born: 27 October 1996 

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 29 years 5 months 30 days 

Marathon best: 1:28:04, Oita 2025 

London Marathon record: 2025 – 9th 1:34:09 

Notes: Made his debut in London last year and broke the top 10 in what was his first major marathon outside of Japan. He set his PB of 1:28:04 in Oita in February 2025. 

Born: 7 June 1982   

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 43 years 10 months 19 days  

Marathon best: 1:25:06 – Boston 2017      

London Marathon record: 2011 – 12th 1:43:19, 2013 – 18th 1:40:54, 2014 – 19th 1:39:42, 2015 – 10th 1:34:21, 2016 – 10th 1:37:02, 2017 – 24th 1:36:57, 2018 – 13th 1:33:36, 2019 – 14th 1:39:58, 2021 – 12th 1:36:00, 2022 – 16th 1:37:16, 2023 – 13th 1:35:20, 2024 – 12th 1:37:06, 2025  - 15th 01:38:01  

Marathons in major championships: Commonwealths: 2018 – 3rd 1:31:44   

Notes: Lawson is an experienced British athlete who finished 12th in the London Marathon last year. Lawson’s biggest achievement was winning a bronze medal for the marathon in the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia.  From Cumbria, Lawson is the son of former professional speedway rider Steve Lawson. He grew up riding BMX bikes before following his father and winning a junior British speedway title before a crash in 2001 paraylsed him from the chest down. He made his London Marathon debut 10 years later in 2011.  

Born: 3 August 2000   

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 25 years 8 months 23 days 

Marathon best: 1:24:15, Berlin 2025 

London Marathon record: 2024 – 21st 1:52:07, 2025 – 14th 1:37:58  

Notes: One of the sport’s rising young talents, Malter (the Austrian record holder) has made significant progress since his marathon debut in London in 2024. He finished 14th in London last year and then had his best performance of his career at the 2025 Berlin Marathon where he finished sixth in a PB of 1:24:15. 

Born: 1 July 1998   

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 27 years 9 months 25 days 

Marathon best: 1:37:09, London 2022  

London Marathon record: 2021 – 23rd 1:45:45, 2022 – 12th 1:37:09, 2024 – 14th 1:41:37, 2025 - DNF  

Notes: McCabe has finished just outside the top 10 in his past two visits to London in 2022 and 2024. He set his marathon PB (1:37:09) at the 2022 edition of the event.  

Born: 14 January 1986   

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 40 years 3 months 12 days  

Marathon best: 1:22:23 – Duluth 2019   

London Marathon record: 2015 – 23rd 1:46:47, 2016 – 15th 1:38:38, 2017 – 19th 1:33:41, 2018 – 19th 1:36:10, 2019 – 13th 1:39:41, 2021 – 11th 1:35:57, 2022 – 9th 1:34:16, 2023 – 11th 1:35:19 , 2024 – 11th 1:37:06  

Notes: Monahan is Ireland’s record holder for the marathon and broke inside the top 10 for the first time in London at the 2022 edition of the marathon, finishing ninth. He was injured in a car accident in 2007 and started racing in 2013 when he placed third in the Dublin Marathon. He has since gone on to win the Dublin Marathon on multiple occasions. 

Born: 11 March 1984   

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 42 years 1 month 15 days 

Marathon best: 1:20:28   

London Marathon record: 2015 – 18th 1:41:48, 2017 – 13th 1:31:11, 2018 – 7th 1:31:25, 2019 – 8th 1:37:34, 2021 – 10th 1:35:56 , 2024 – 20th 1:51:04, 2025 – 13th 1:34:24  

Notes: Nischida recorded a third-place finish in the Tokyo Marathon in 2022 and has competed in the London Marathon six time, finishing in the top 10 on three occasions. He also achieved a fourth-place finish in Berlin in 2019 and won the Osaka Wheelchair Marathon twice (2014 and 2015).  

Born: 10 June 1991   

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 34 years 10 months 16 days 

Marathon best: 1:24:28, Dubai 2023    

London Marathon record: 2022 – 5th 1:30:44, 2023 – 2nd 1:28:44, 2025 – 3rd 01:26:49  

Notes: A Dutch Paralympic hero, Plat is a multi-sport specialist who has seven Paralympic gold medals to his name, won over three Paralympic Games (2016 to 2024). He won para-triathlon gold medals in Rio, Tokyo and Paris, para-cycling road gold in 2020 and 2024 and time-trial gold in 2024. He has ventured into marathon racing in recent years with success. He was second in London in 2022 and third in 2025. He also has podium finishes at the New York City Marathon (2022) and Boston Marathon (2023). Plat was born with two stunted legs and started using a handcycle in 1995 as a way to get to and from school.   

Born: March 8 2003 

Age on Marathon Day: 23 years 1 month 18 days 

Marathon best: N/A 

London Marathon record: N/A 

Notes: Robinson was diagnosed with spinal segmental dysgenesis at birth, meaning his brain doesn’t send signals to his legs. Due to the rare form of spina bifida, he has had 21 surgeries in his life. A New York native, he practically grew up in a racing wheelchair, making his racing debut at the 2013 Boilermaker 10K at just age 10.  

Born: 20 September 1977  

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 48 years 7 months 6 days 

Marathon best: 1:26:51 - London 2025  

London Marathon record: 2024 – 7th 1:35:36, 2025 – 4th 01:26:51  

Abbott World Marathon Majors top results: 3rd – Berlin (2024) 01:30:33  

Notes: Another Dutch multi-sport athlete, Schipper specialises in paratriathlon and won a silver medal in this discipline at the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016 and a bronze at the 2024 Paris Games. He was world champion at paratriathlon in 2023 and the Ironman World Champion in 2018. He made his debut at the TCS London Marathon in 2025 and narrowly missed out on a place on the podium after a sprint finish with countryman Jetze Plat.  

Born: 27 November 1989   

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 36 years 4 months 30 days  

Marathon best: 1:20:05 – Duluth 2021   

London Marathon record: 2015 – 20th 1:46:17, 2016 – 18th 1:38:40, 2017 – 17th 1:33:40, 2018 – 11th 1:33:24, 2019 – 11th 1:38:33, 2021 – 6th 1:35:54, 2022 – 10th 1:34:17, 2023 – 14th 1:37:23 , 2024 – 10th 1:37:00, 2025 – 20th 01:43:55  

Marathons in major championships: Commonwealth: 2018 – 2nd 1:31:33, 2022 – 1st 1:41:15   

Notes: Smith won a gold medal in the marathon at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, going one better than the silver he won at the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast, Australia.  He has finished on the podium at an Abbot World Marathon Major event on three occasions, with second place finishes in New York in 2018 and Boston in 2022, plus a third-place finish in Berlin in 2018. He made his first Paralympic team for the Tokyo Games in 2021, becoming the first Romany Gypsy to do so.   

Born: 14 June 1994   

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 31 years 10 months 12 days 

Marathon best: 1:18:37 – Oita 2021   

London Marathon record: 2017 – 16th 1:31:12, 2018 – 8th 1:31:25, 2019 – 3rd 1:33:51, 2022 – 4th 1:30:41, 2023 – 3rd 1:30:00, 2024 – 4th 1:30:42, 2025 – 2nd 1:26:09  

Notes: Suzuki was the bronze medallist in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. He is a three-time winner of the Tokyo Marathon (2020, 2024 and 2025) and was runner-up in London last year, continuing a streak of not finishing outside the top five in his last five visits to the UK capital. He injured his spine in a car accident when eight months old and took up para-athletics at school.   

Born: 17 December 2002 

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 23 years 4 months 9 days 

Marathon best: Tokyo 2026 time 

London Marathon record: N/A 

Notes: Xingchuan won a silver medal in the 1,500m at the 2025 World Championships and a bronze in the 5,000m at the 2024 World Championships. He is making his London debut in 2026. He was runner-up to Marcel Hug in the 2026 Tokyo Marathon. 

Born: 23 November 1991 

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 34 years 5 months 3 days     

Marathon best: 1:28:01 – Tokyo 2017   

London Marathon record: 2020 – 4th 1:36:08, 2021 – 7th 1:35:55, 2022 – 7th 1:34:16, 2023 – 6th 1:35:03 , 2024 – 5th 1:35:33, 2025 – 7th 1:34:06  

Notes: The winner of the 2017 Tokyo Marathon, Watanabe has a best-placed finish of fourth at the London Marathon, which he achieved at the 2020 elite-only race around St James’s Park. He was third at the 2026 Tokyo Marathon. 

Born: 5 June 1979   

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 46 years 10 months 21 days 

Marathon best: 1:22:12, Boston 2024  

London Marathon record: 2000 – 4th 1:47:11, 2001 – 3rd 1:50:55, 2002 – 1st 1:39:44, 2003 – 2nd 1:34:48, 2004 – 2nd 1:36:56, 2005 – 3rd 1:36:03, 2006 – 1st 1:29:48, 2007 – 1st 1:30:49, 2008 – 1st 1:33:36, 2009 – 2nd 1:28:57, 2010 – 3rd 1:37:01, 2011 – 1st 1:30:05, 2012 – 1st 1:32:26, 2013 – 5th 1:31:31, 2014 – 2nd 1:32:42, 2015 – 2nd 1:31:32, 2016 – 3rd 1:35:21, 2017 – 1st 1:31:06, 2018 – 1st 1:31:15, 2019 – 5th 1:37:32, 2020 – 2nd 1:36:06, 2021 – 3rd 1:31:33, 2022 – 3rd 1:30:41, 2023 – 5th 1:32:45, 2025 –  6th 1:34:06  

Other Abbott World Marathon Majors top victories: 1st – Berlin (2015), 1st New York (2010)   

Marathons in major championships: Paralympics: 2012 – 1st 1:30:20, 2016 – DNF, 2024 – 5th 1:33:27; Worlds: 2020 (2021) – 5th 1:29:45, 2006 – DNF, 2011 – DNS, 2015 – 2nd 1:31:32, 2019 – 5th 1:37:32   

Notes: Weir is the most successful elite athlete in the history of the London Marathon with an incredible eight victories. Incredibly, 2025 will also be his 26th consecutive London Marathon since his debut in 2000. He won the Mini London Marathon seven times as a junior and is still the only male athlete, wheelchair or able-bodied, to win both mini and senior events. He is a six-time Paralympic gold medallist, having won two at the Beijing 2008 Games and four at London 2012 when he was nicknamed ‘Weirwolf’.  He was born with a severed spinal cord and started racing aged eight.   

Born: 16 March 1995 (Age 30)   

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 31 years 1 month 10 days 

Marathon best: Valencia 2024 - 1st 2:02:05  

London Marathon record: 2025 – 1st 2:02:27   

Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Berlin 2025 - 1st 2:02:16  

Other major city marathons: Valencia 2024 – 1st 2:02:05   

Marathons in major championships: None   

Notes: Sawe ran the fastest marathon of 2024 on his debut over the distance when he won the Valencia Marathon in 2:02:05 which remains the fifth fastest time in history. He then went on to win the 2025 TCS London Marathon in April in a time of 2:02:27 and the 2025 Berlin Marathon five months later in a time of 2:02:16.   

Prior to stepping up to the marathon, Sawe showed immense talent over the half marathon distance. In 2023, he won the half marathon at the inaugural World Athletics World Road Running Championships and has wins in Copenhagen, Prague, Berlin, Rome and Sevilla to his name. His half marathon PB of 58:05, set in winning in Copenhagen last year, is the ninth fastest half marathon time in history.   

Born: 14 November 2000  

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 25 years 5 months 12 days 

Marathon best: 2:02:23, Chicago   

London Marathon record: 2025 – 2nd 2:03:37  

Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Chicago 2025 1st 2:02:23  

Other major city marathons: N/A  

Marathons in major championships: N/A 

Notes: Kiplimo made his debut at the TCS London Marathon in 2025 where he finished in second place, behind Sebastian Sawe, in a time of 2:03:37. He then went on to win the 2025 Chicago Marathon, finishing in 2:02:23. The Ugandan broke the world record holder for the half marathon in the build up to this year’s TCS London Marathon, running 57:20 in Lisbon on March 8. Kiplimo has been a prodigy in distance running since becoming his country’s youngest-ever Olympian at the Rio 2016 Olympics when he competed in the 5,000m event at age 15.  He won a 10,000m bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, before claiming a 10,000m bronze medal once again at the World Championships in July 2022 and then picking up 5,000m and 10,000m gold medals a month later at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Kiplimo’s first success at a major championship came at the 2017 World Cross Country Championships when he won the U20 title on home soil in Kampala, and he became a world cross-country champion at senior men’s level six years later. Kiplimo has three half-brothers who are also athletes: Victor Kiplangat, the 2023 world marathon champion; Oscar Chelimo, and Robert Chemonges.  

Born: 14 January 1996 

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 30 years 3 months 12 days 

Marathon best: 2:02:38, Valencia 2024 

London Marathon record: N/A 

Other Abbott World Major Marathon Majors: Tokyo: 2025 – 2nd 2:03:51 

Other major city marathons: Xichang: 2017 – 2nd 2:17:57; Beirut: 2018 – 3rd 2:12:33; Zhengzhou: 2018 – 7th 2:20:01; La Rochelle: 2019 – 2nd 2:11:26; Nagano: 2019 – 2nd 2:10:42; Mumbai: 2019 – 8th 2:13:11; Lagos: 2020 – 5th 2:11:35, 2021 – 2nd 2:15:10, 2022 – 1st 2:11:58; Rome: 2021 – 3rd 2:08:42; Frankfurt: 2022 – 3rd 2:07:30; Barcelona: 2022 – 11th 2:08:48; Beijing: 2023 – 1st 2:07:41; Dubai: 2023 – 2nd 2:05:51; Seville: 2024 – 1st 2:03:27; Valencia: 2024 – 2nd 2:02:38; Shanghai: 2025 – 3rd 2:06:36 

Marathons in major championships: Olympics: 2024 – 5th 2:07:31; World Championships: 2025 - DNF 

Notes: Geleta is a vastly experienced marathon runner who served his apprenticeship at marathons around the world before making his huge breakthrough in 2024 when he won the Seville Marathon in 2:03:27, finished fifth in the Olympic Games marathon in Paris and then ran 2:02:38 in Valencia, a time which makes him the ninth-fastest man in history over the marathon distance. He also has marathon victories in Lagos and Beijing to his name. He hails from the Oromia region of Ethiopia. 

Born: 16 September 1992    

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: xxx 

Marathon best: 2:03:13 Tokyo 2022    

London Marathon record: 2022 – 1st 2:04:39, 2023 - DNF 

Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Tokyo: 2018 – 3rd 2:06:33, 2020 – 18th 2:08:00, 2022 – 2nd 2:03:13; Berlin: 2018 – 2nd 2:06:23, 2023 – 7th 2:04:49; Chicago: 2024 – 3rd 2:04:50 

Other major city marathons: Dubai: 2016 – DNF, 2017 – DNF; Rome: 2016 – 1st 2:08:12; Seoul: 2017 – 1st 2:05:54; Amsterdam: 2016 – 2:09:08, 2017 – 5th 2:05:43; Prague: 2019 – 3rd 2:06:46; Valencia: 2020 – 4th 2:03:30; Hamburg: 2025 – 1st 2:03:46 

Marathons in major championships: Worlds: 2019 – 3rd 2:10:51; Olympics 2020 (2021): DNF    

Notes: Kipruto had the finest moment of his career in London in 2022 when he won the TCS London Marathon on his debut in the UK capital. The Kenyan also has podium finishes in Tokyo, Berlin and Chicago to his name, plus a bronze medal from the 2019 World Championships in Doha. He went three years from his victory in London without a marathon victory until he took the win in Hamburg in 2025 in his third fastest time ever (2:03:46). 

Born: 11 August 1991    

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 34 years 8 months 15 days 

Marathon best: 2:03:39 Amsterdam 2021    

London Marathon record: 2019- 6th 2:06:57, 2020 – 6th 2:06:41, 2023 – 3rd 2:04:59, 2024 – DNF, 2025 – 5th 2:04:42  

Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Boston: 2018- DNF; New York: 2018- 4th 2:08:30, 2019- 4th 2:09:20, 2023 – 1st 2:04:58   

Other major city marathons: Dubai: 2014- 4th 2:06:17, 2017- 1st 2:04:11, 2018- 3rd 2:04:06 Gongju: 2014- 8th 2:12:22; Amsterdam: 2021 – 1st 2:03:39.   

Marathons in major championships: Worlds: 2017- 2nd 2:09:49, 2022 – 1st 2:05:36, 2023 – DNF; Olympics 2024 - 1st   

Notes: Tola is the reigning Olympic marathon champion, taking the biggest win of his career on the gruelling Paris Olympic Games course. After a successful career on the track where the highlight was a bronze medal in the 10,000m at the 2016 Olympics, Tola’s marathon career has got better with experience. After coming so close to gold at the 2017 World Championships in London (when he finished runner-up), Tola finally became the world champion in 2022 when he won the marathon at the Oregon World Championships (2:05:36). It came after he finished third at the 2022 Tokyo Marathon and won the 2021 Amsterdam Marathon in a PB of 2:03:39. Tola has also had success at Abbott World Marathon Majors events, winning the New York City marathon in 2023. His best result in London was third in 2023.   

Born: 17 May 1995  

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 30 years 11 months 9 days  

Marathon best: 2:04:58, Berlin 2023  

London Marathon record: 2025 - 8th 2:06:30  

Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Berlin: 2023 – 9th 2:04:58  

Other major city marathons: Valencia: 2019 – 10th 2:10:29, 2020 – 16th 2:07:18, 2021 – 11th 2:06:27; Hannover: 2023 – 1st 2:07:02, 2024 – 1st 2:06:05  

Marathons in major championships: Olympics: 2020 (2021) - 29th 2:16:33, 2024 - DNF; Europeans: 2022 – 4th 2:10:39; World Championships: 2025 – 2nd 2:09:48 

Notes: Petros is the German national record holder for both the marathon and half marathon. He came painstakingly close to winning the World Championships marathon in Tokyo last year when he lost out on a photo finish to Alphonce Simbu.  He won a bronze medal in the half marathon at the European Championships in Rome in 2024. He has won the Hannover Marathon twice. Petros is originally from Tigray, northern Ethiopia and was born in Eritrea. He escaped with his mother and sisters to Ethiopia at the age of 2 during the Border War with Ethiopia. In January 2012, he went to Germany by himself as a refugee. He attained German citizenship in 2015  

Born: 22 November 1992   

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 33 years 5 months 4 days 

Marathon best: 2:04:23, London 2023 

London Marathon record: 2023 – 2nd 2:04:23   

Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Berlin: 2011 – DNF; 2012 – 3rd 2:06:12, 2013 – 3rd 2:06:26, 2014 – 4th 2:06:39; Tokyo: 2014 – 6th 2:07:37; New York: 2015 – 2nd 2:10:48, 2017 – 1st 2:10:53, 2018 – 3rd 2:06:26, 2019 – 1st 2:08:13, 2024 – 5th 2:08:50; Boston: 2022 – 18th 2:11:49   

Other major city marathons: Rotterdam: 2013 – 4th 2:09:12, 2025 – 1 2:04:33; Valencia: 2021 – 4th 2:05:23   

Marathons in major championships: Worlds: 2022 – 5th 2:07:14   

Notes: Kamworor is a three-time World Half Marathon champion, two-time World Cross Country champion and a former World Half Marathon record holder. He was imperious over the 13.1 mile distance between 2014 and 2019 when he won three world titles in a row (2014, 2016 and 2018) and set a then world record of 58:01 at the Copenhagen Half Marathon in 2019. He has had success over the marathon distance too, twice winning the New York City Marathon, in 2017 and 2019. He has run the TCS London Marathon once, finishing second behind Kelvin Kiptum in 2023 in a PB of 2:04:23. 

Born: 12 September 1996 

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 29 years 7 months 14 days 

Marathon best: 2:04:52, Amsterdam 

London Marathon record: N/A 

Other Abbott World Major Marathon Majors: Tokyo: 2025 - 9th 2:05:59 

Other major city marathons: 2025 Amsterdam 5th - 2:04:52, 2023 Valencia 37th - 2:08:59 

Marathons in major championships: N/A 

Notes: Joshua Cheptegei is Ugandan long-distance runner and the current world record holder for the 5,000M and the 10,000M. He won three World Championship gold medals in a row over 10,000m between 2019 and 2023 plus won gold in the 10,000m at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, setting a new Olympic record of 26:43:14. After a number of dominant years on the track, he is beginning to switch his focus to road racing, making his marathon debut in Valencia in 2023 where he finished 37th in a time of 2:08:59. In March 2025 Cheptegei ran his first Abbott World Major marathon in Tokyo, placing ninth in a time of 2:05:59. He set a new personal best in October of that year at the Amsterdam Marathon, finishing in fifth place in a time of 2:04:52. He will be making his debut in London. 

Born: 26 July 1998 

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 27 years 9 months 0 days 

Marathon best: 2:06:06, Osaka 2025 

London Marathon record: N/A 

Other Abbott World Major Marathon Majors: Tokyo: 2024 – 27th 2:10:50 

Other major city marathons: Otsu: 2021 – 316th 2:33:28; Rotterdam: 2023 – 47th 2:21:09; Osaka: 2023 – 21st 2:08:20, 2025 – 7th 2:06:06; Fukuoka: 2025 – 12th 2:12:36 

Marathons in major championships: None 

Notes: Kikuchi ran the 11th fastest marathon time ever by a Japanese athlete (2:06:06) in Osaka in February 2025, knocking well over two minutes from his previous best. He belongs to the Chugoku Electric Power Athletics Club.  

Born: 18 September 1997   

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 28 years 7 months 8 days 

Marathon best: 2:07:05, London 2024  

London Marathon record: 2024: 4th 2:07:05, 2025, 9th 2:08:52  

Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: N/A   

Other major city marathons: Valencia 2023 – 34th 2:08:42   

Marathons in major championships: Olympics: 2024 – 57th 2:15:19  

Notes: Mahamed had an incredible run at the 2024 TCS London Marathon where he finished fourth overall in a PB of 2:07:05 to go third on the British all-time list (behind Sir Mo Farah and Emile Cairess). The run earned him a place in the Great Britain team for the Paris Olympic Games marathon where he finished in 57th place. He followed that up by finishing as the first Brit and ninth-placed overall at the 2025 TCS London Marathon 

Born: 3 October 1992     

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 33 years 6 months 23 days 

Marathon best: 2:07:10, Valencia 2025 

London Marathon record: 2021 – 7th 2:12:58, 2022 – 10th 2:12:10, 2023 – 8th 2:10:23, 2025 – 20th 2:14:46  

Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: N/A  

Other major city marathons: Valencia: 2023 – 36th 2:08:49, 2025 – 13th 2:07:10; Seville: 2024 – 16th 2:08:04; Amsterdam: 2025 – 10th 2:07:18 

Marathons in major championships: Europeans: 2022 – 17th 2:15:17; Olympics: 2024 – 46th 2:13:08   

Notes: Sesemann has established himself as one of Great Britain’s best and most consistent marathon performers since making his debut at the 2021 London Marathon where he finished as the first British man and in seventh place overall in 2:12:58. Since then he has chipped away at his PB and recorded two further top 10 finishes at the London Marathon (2022 and 2023). He ran three marathons in 2025, finishing 20thin London before running 2:07:18 in Amsterdam and then a PB of 2:07:10 in Valencia just seven weeks later. He represented Great Britain over the marathon distance at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. Sesemann is a trained doctor based in Leeds. He has two dogs called Kipchoge and Haile.    

Born: 1 January 1994  

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 32 years 3 months 25 days 

Marathon best: 2:08:54, Valencia 2024  

London Marathon record: 2025 – 12th 2:09:48  

Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Chicago: 2024 – 35th 2:20:53  

Other major city marathons: Valencia: 2023 – 56th 2:13:01, 2024 – 25th 2:08:54; Copenhagen: 2024 – 9th 2:13:48  

Marathons in major championships: N/A  

Notes: From Durban, South Africa, Lipschitz broke the 2:10 barrier for the marathon in Valencia in 2024, finishing in 2:08:54. He was 12th at last year’s TCS London Marathon. 

Born: 5 September 1996  

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 29 years 7 months 21 days 

Marathon best: 2:08:58 - New York, 2025 

London Marathon record: Debut  

Other Abbot World Marathon Majors: New York: 2025 - 4th 2.08.58   

Marathons in major championships: None  

Notes: Dever made his marathon debut at the 2025 New York marathon, finishing in an impressive fourth place in a time of 2.08.28, and placing him 10th on the all-time British rankings. Before his marathon debut, Preston-born Dever represented Great Britian at Olympic and World Championships on the track with his personal best in the 10,000M (27:08:81), the second fastest time in UK history, after Sir Mo Farah. Having taken part in the London Mini Marathon in both 2012 (age 15) and 2023 (age 16), where he came sixth and fifth respectively in the 3-mile event, Dever’s TCS London Marathon debut is a true full circle moment for the talented British athlete.  

Born: 26 November 1997 

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 28 years 5 months 0 days 

Marathon best: 2:09:36, Dusselforf 2025 

London Marathon record: N/A 

Other Abbott World Major Marathon Majors: Chicago: 2024 – 30th 2:17:40 

Other major city marathons: Dusseldorf: 2025 – 3rd 2:09:36 

Marathons in major championships: World Championships: 2025 – 24th 2:14:12 

Notes: Lynch set a then Irish national record of 2:09:36 when finishing third at the Dusseldorf Marathon in 2025. The result earned him selection for the Irish team at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo where he finished a very credible 24th place in sweltering conditions in Japan. He is a member of Kilkenny City Harriers and trained in the USA while studying at the University of Tulsa. 

Born: 6 September 1998 

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 27 years 7 months 20 days 

Marathon best: 2:09:40, Frankfurt 2024 

London Marathon record: N/A 

Other Abbott World Major Marathon Majors: N/A 

Other major city marathons: Kobe: 2023 – 2nd 2:12:05; Frankfurt: 2024 – 9th 2:09:40 

Marathons in major championships: World Championships: 2025 – 44th 2:20:12 

Notes: Brisbane-based Australian who started his career in mountain running and cross-country. He twice represented Australia in World Mountain Running Championships (2015 and 2017) before switching his focus to the roads. He was second at the Kobe Marathon in 2023 and ninth at the 2024 Frankfurt Marathon where he set his PB of 2:09:40 – a result which saw him selected to represent Australia at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. 

Born: 24 March 1994     

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 32 years 1 month 2 days 

Marathon best: 2:09:50, Berlin 2023    

London Marathon record: 2019 – 28th 2:17:26, 2021 – 12th 2:16:27, 2022 – 9th 2:11:57, 2023 – 14th 2:15:41, 2025 – 15th 2:11:21  

Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Berlin 2023 – 22nd 2:09:50   

Other major city marathons: Amsterdam: 2024 – 19th 2:13:25  

Notes: Ghebresilasie was born in Eritrea and competed for the country of his birth at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Following the Games he stayed in the UK and sought asylum and has been eligible to compete for Great Britain since 2021. He was the first British athlete home (and ninth overall) at the 2022 TCS London Marathon when he ran a PB of 2:11:57, before finishing 14th a year later. Ghebresilasie’s PB was set at the Berlin Marathon in 2023 (2:09:50).  

Born: 11 September 1996 

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 29 years 7 months 15 days 

Marathon best: 2:09:58, Valencia 2025 

London Marathon record: N/A 

Other Abbott World Major Marathon Majors: N/A 

Other major city marathons: Seville: 2025 – 40th 2:14:00; Prague: 2025 – 12th 2:18:08; Valencia: 2025 – 33rd 2:09:58 

Marathons in major championships: N/A 

Notes: A member of Medway & Maidstone AC, Menges represented England over the half marathon distance before making the step up to marathon running in 2025. He ran three times over the 26.2 miledistance in 2025, in Seville, Prague and Valencia. In Valencia he dipped under 2:10 for the first time, clocking 2:09:58. 

Born: 3 September 1997 

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 28 years 7 months 23 days 

Marathon best: 2:10:28, Seville 2025 

London Marathon record: N/A 

Other Abbott World Major Marathon Majors: N/A 

Other major city marathons: Kobe: 2024 – 3rd 2:12:35; Seville: 2025 – 31st 2:10:28 

Marathons in major championships: World Championships: 2025 – 57th 2:24:39 

Notes: Boudin made his World Championships debut in 2025 when he was part of the Australian marathon team. He earned the selection after running a PB of 2:10:28 in Seville in 2025. 

Born: 19 May 1998   

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 27 years 11 months 7 days 
Marathon best: 2:11:00, Pulford 2021      
London Marathon record: 2025 – 16th 2:11:57  

Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: None    

Other major city marathons: Pulford (Cheshire): 2021 – 1st 2:11:00      

Marathons in major championships: None   

Notes: Jake Smith’s marathon PB was set in a race he never intended to finish! The Cardiff AC athlete was a pacemaker in the Cheshire Elite Marathon in April 2021 and scheduled to drop out at 17 miles. But feeling good, Smith pushed on to record a time of 2:11:00. It capped a golden spell for Smith where he also ran a 60:31 half marathon. But he was forced to take time out of the sport after being diagnosed with RED-S (a state of chronic low energy availablity). He returned in 2024 and was second at The Big Half and won the 2025 GetPro Bath Half Marathon in 62:20. He made his London Marathon debut in 2025 where he was 16th in 2:11:57. 

Born: 30 January 1996  

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 30 years 2 months 27 days 

Marathon best: 2:12:31, Valencia 2025 

London Marathon record: N/A 

Other Abbott World Major Marathon Majors: N/A 

Other major city marathons: Valencia: 2025 – 47th 2:12:33 

Marathons in major championships: N/A 

Notes: Rowe has had great domestic success over the half marathon distance and became the seventh fastest British man ever over 13.1 miles at the Copenhagen Half Marathon in September 2025 with a time of 60:53. He has won The Big Half marathon in London on three occasions. Born in Norwich. 

Born: May 7 1993

Marathon best: 2:13:20

Born: March 11 1990

Marathon best: 2:14:03

Born: July 10 1987

Marathon best: 2:14:45

Born: July 17 1987

Marathon best: 2:14:51

Born: February 13 1994

Marathon best: 2:14:55

Born: March 1 1990

Marathon best: 2:14:57

Born: May 9 1987

Marathon best: 2:15:16

Born: January 23 1995

Marathon best: 2:15:38

Born: January 8 1991

Marathon best: 2:15:54

Born: 1 August 1997 

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 28 years 8 months 25 days 

Marathon best: N/A 

London Marathon record: N/A 

Other Abbott World Major Marathon Majors: N/A 

Other major city marathons: N/A 

Marathons in major championships: N/A 

Notes: Yomif Kejelcha is the former world record for the half marathon, with the 57:30 time he set at the 2024 Valencia Half Marathon still the second fastest in history). Kejelcha also held the world record for the short track mile (3:47:01) from 2019 to 2025, and is the fourth fastest 5,000M runner in history with a personal best of 12:38:95. He won silver medals on the track over 10,000m at the 2019 and 2025 World Championships.  

Born: 11 May 1994 

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 31 years 11 months 16 days 

Marathon best: N/A 

London Marathon record: N/A 

Other Abbott World Major Marathon Majors: N/A 

Other major city marathons: N/A 

Marathons in major championships: N/A 

Notes: Gebrhiwet has been one of the promiment distance runners on the track over the past decade and now makes his first step into marathon running. He burst onto the scene as a junior, going to his first Olympic Games as an 18 year old in 2012. He won a silver medal over 5,000m at the 2013 World Championships. He won a bronze medal over the same distance at the next World Championships (2015) before winning an Olympic Games bronze medal at the 2016 Games in Rio (also over 5,000m). That was his last medal in a global championship on the track but he has been a constant presence on the Diamond League circuit since and set a new Ethiopian record over 5,000m in Oslo in 2024. On the road, he won the 5KM gold medal at the World Road Running Championships in Riga in 2023. He is the fourth fastest man of all time over the half marathon distance with his PB of 57:41 set in Valencia in 2023.   

Born: 12 October 1999 

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 26 years 6 months 14 days 

Marathon best: N/A 

London Marathon record: N/A 

Other Abbott World Major Marathon Majors: N/A 

Other major city marathons: N/A 

Marathons in major championships: N/A 

Notes: A marathon debutant who has racked up some impressive performances over the half marathon distance since hitting the world scene in 2023, with two victories in Zwolle and one in Boston, plus a 58:10 clocking when finishing third in Copenhagen in 2024 – the 11th fastest half marathon time ever. 

Born: 26 September 1999 

Age on 2026 TCS London Marathon day: 26 years 8 months 0 days 

Marathon best: N/A 

London Marathon record: N/A 

Other Abbott World Major Marathon Majors: N/A 

Other major city marathons: N/A 

Marathons in major championships: N/A 

Notes: Sheffield’s Manthorpe ran the third fastest 10K time ever by a British athlete in January 2025 when he finished the Valencia 10K in 27:38. In August 2025, he ran as part of a team which completed a 607km relay run challenge across Iceland. He is a member of Hallamshire Harriers.