In its inaugural year as the seventh Abbott World Marathon Majors race, the Sydney Marathon delivered in abundance. The 2025 event, which was staged in New South Wales’ capital on Sunday (31 August), welcomed over 35,000 to its start line, making it the largest marathon in Australia’s history. Not only that, its two winners, Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands and Hailemaryam Kiros of Ethiopia, scored two new course records of 2:18:22 and 2:06:06, respectively.
Renowned for her versatility over multiple distances, Hassan won Olympic bronze in both the 5000m and 10,000m just days before becoming the Olympic marathon champion in Paris last year. She chose to bypass the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September – the first time that she has bypassed the World Athletics Championships since 2015 – to chase the honour of winning in Sydney.
Brigid Kosgei of Kenya, the former world marathon record holder, placed second in 2:18:56, after challenging Hassan for the lead around the 35km mark. Hassan and Kosgei are the first-ever women to have broken 2:20 for the marathon on Australian soil. Ethiopia’s Workenesh Edesa completed the podium in 2:22:15.
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The victory marked Hassan’s first race since placing third at April’s London Marathon in 2:19:00, which was won by Tigist Assefa in a women’s-only world record of 2:15:50.
‘I pushed so hard,’ said Hassan after Sydney on the broadcast. ‘I was so dead, the last 10 kilometres. I just killed myself. I started too hard and I learnt my lesson.
‘This is the hardest race that I’ve won without drama,’ she added. ‘I learn a great lesson every time.’
The Dutchwoman took out the field fast, averaging a pace of 3:08 min/km. This put her on target for a finish time of 2:12, which would be a personal best and the third-fastest women’s marathon time in history.
‘I’m the first to win and I’m so grateful,’ continued Hassan.
On the men’s side, both Kiros and countryman Addisu Gobena ran under the course record, with Gobena clocking 2:06:16. Tebello Ramakongoana of Lesotho also broke 2:07 with his third-place finish time of 2:06:47.
This trio distanced a pack that included two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge, a legend over 26.2 miles who placed ninth in a time of 2:08:31. The former marathon world record holder, from Kenya, hung with the lead pack until just after 30km.
‘The competition was very tough,’ said Kiros, following his win. ‘They are a strong field, but we worked together as a pack and now we’re here.’
Meanwhile, Kipchoge gave profuse thanks to the race organisers after completing his race. ‘Australia is on the right foot,’ he said. ‘This is awesome.’
How to enter the 2026 Sydney Marathon
One of the most scenic 26.2-mile footraces in the world, the Sydney Marathons offers a spectacular tour of some of the city’s best parks, suburbs and coastlines, not to mention a unique crossing over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and an unforgettable finish beside the Sydney Opera House.
If you – understandably – are craving a place in the 2026 Sydney Marathon, there are various ways that you can get your hands on a race bib.
For starters, you can enter the 2026 Sydney Marathon ballot, which will open on Wednesday 24 September 2025 at 1am BST and close on Friday 17 October 2025 at 2:59pm BST. Whether you’re a Six Star Finisher gunning for your Seventh Star, or you want to take on your first-ever marathon somewhere special, it’s worth putting your name in the hat.
However, if you want to take the luck out of applying, you can secure a guaranteed entry into the 2026 Sydney Marathon via Marathon Tours & Travel, an official international travel partner for the race. In addition to a confirmed place in the event, your package will include accommodation near the start and finish areas, airport transfers, optional tours around Sydney and a well-deserved post-race celebration party – as well as a dedicated team to take care of all the logistics. For context, almost 11,000 international runners, friends and family members enjoyed the 2025 Sydney Marathon under Marathon Tours & Travel’s wing.
