The annual London Marathon took place in the city of London on April 27th, surpassing previous years in terms of participants. Nearly 57,000 people crossed the finish line, setting a new Guinness World Record for the most people completing the race.
Established in 1981, this year marked the 45th edition of the London Marathon. The event, held in late April every year, has become one of the top six marathons worldwide.
In this year’s competition, over 56,000 participants reached the finish line, breaking the Guinness World Record set by the New York City Marathon last November.
Hugh Brasher, the Race Director of the London Marathon, announced on April 28th that a total of 56,640 individuals completed the race. He expressed, “We are delighted that yesterday’s London Marathon broke the Guinness World Record for the most finishers in a marathon.”
This year marked the 18th consecutive year that the Guinness World Records participated in this grand event. Reflecting on the race’s history, Brasher stated, “We are pleased to collaborate again with the Guinness World Records to celebrate our 45th event.”
Brasher also expressed his hope that spectators who witnessed this year’s race would be inspired to register for next year’s competition.
In this edition of the London Marathon, both professional athletes and sports enthusiasts gathered early at the starting line in Blackheath, eager to test the results of months of rigorous training. Their goal was to run over 42 kilometers through the picturesque route of the UK capital.
Aside from setting the record for the most finishers, this race also saw numerous new records being established. Guinness World Records reported that 53 athletes broke new world records across 41 categories.
Some athletes showcased their endurance and skills, while others broke records by wearing eccentric outfits, challenging the traditional perception of marathons.
The first to cross the finish line and set a new world record was long-distance female runner Tigist Assefa from Ethiopia. She clocked in at 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 50 seconds, breaking the record for the fastest female marathon runner on a women-only course.
On the other hand, the first to break a world record with unique attire was long-distance runner Su Ruiyong from Singapore. He completed the marathon in 2 hours and 39 minutes while wearing a men’s suit, setting a record for running a marathon in such attire.
Many other participants broke records with their unconventional outfits, donning traditional Nepali attire, dressing up as elves, pirates, birds, kings, warriors, aliens, TV characters, and even medals, seemingly aiming for creativity.
A mother-daughter pair also competed together, setting a world record for completing a marathon as a duo in 8 hours, 17 minutes, and 54 seconds.
Regardless of the results achieved after a tiring day, all participants wholeheartedly embraced the challenge, proving that with the right mindset and effort, anything is possible.
Guinness World Records judge Will Sinden congratulated the record-breaking athletes, stating, “I’ve been a judge for several years, but today marks my first time officiating at the London Marathon. Seeing so many people successfully break records today has been fantastic.”