London Marathon draws 59,000 runners

More than 59,000 runners lined up for the 2026 TCS London Marathon on Sunday, putting the race on course to challenge its own world record for marathon finishers. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) (olympics.com) Organizers said last year’s race finished with 56,640 runners and walkers, the largest total ever recorded for a marathon, and this year’s field was even bigger at the start line. (olympics.com) (bbc.com) In the elite women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa won in 2:15:41 after pulling clear late from Kenya’s Hellen Obiri, who finished in 2:15:53, and Joyciline Jepkosgei, who ran 2:15:55. (standard.co.uk) (telegraph.co.uk) The men’s elite title defense centered on Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe, who returned after winning London in 2025 in 2:02:27, the second-fastest men’s performance in race history. (worldathletics.org) (olympics.com) London Marathon Events said the 2026 edition drew a record 1.13 million ballot applications, which it called the highest demand for any marathon in the world. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) The field also reflected a broader shift in who signs up for marathons. Organizers said more than one-third of United Kingdom applicants were ages 18 to 29, and women made up the biggest share of that group. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) London Marathon Events also said more than 1,900 disabled participants registered for the mass event, the highest total in race history. The oldest registered participant was 88-year-old Harry Newton of Macclesfield. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) Wheelchair racing again produced marquee winners. Switzerland’s Marcel Hug won the men’s wheelchair race in 1:24:13, and Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner won the women’s wheelchair race in 1:38:29, four seconds ahead of Tatyana McFadden of the United States. (nbcsports.com) (olympics.com) Official searchable results were published by London Marathon Events as runners continued to finish across the afternoon. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk)