© FFA/REMI_BLOMME
World 24-Hour Championships: Silver for the French Team in Albi
The World 24-Hour Championships took place from October 18 to 19 at the Municipal Stadium in Albi, in southern France. The world’s top ultrarunners gathered in the historic city to take on the grueling endurance challenge. The French team delivered an impressive performance, earning a silver medal in the team standings at this 15th edition of the event. In the women’s race, Corinne Gruffaz achieved an excellent eighth-place finish.
The 24-hour ultramarathon is an event that demands extraordinary endurance, meticulous nutrition, and above all, an unbreakable mindset and flawless race strategy. The winner is the athlete who covers the greatest possible distance within 24 hours. It’s not only a fierce contest against other runners, but also a relentless battle against time—and, most of all, against oneself.
The track at Albi’s Municipal Stadium pulsed with the rhythm of the world’s finest ultrarunners, each pushing their limits in this test of extreme stamina. This edition in Albi is already being hailed as one of the most competitive in the history of the discipline. Once a niche pursuit, long-distance road events are now enjoying growing popularity, as seen with races such as the 24-hour run in Brive and the French 100 km Championships.
Some 400 athletes, thousands of volunteers, and 46 international delegations took part in this endless day. The men’s world record still belongs to Lithuanian endurance master Aleksandr Sorokin, who covered an astonishing 319.614 km in 24 hours in 2022—an average pace of 4:30 per kilometer for those familiar with running metrics.
| Women’s World Record, Corinne Gruffaz Finishes Eighth
Organized by the International Association of Ultrarunners, the 1.5 km loop around the Municipal Stadium offered a smooth, fast course with wide turns—perfect conditions for breaking world records. And British runner Sarah Webster made the most of it. Leading from start to finish, she took the victory with 278.622 km, setting a new world record. Behind her, Australia’s Holly Ranson, who had already finished second last year, completed 274.172 km. In third place came Japan’s Miho Nakata, the defending champion, with 271.987 km—surpassing even her own previous world record. This performance speaks volumes about the exceptional depth and competitiveness of this year’s field.
Among the French women, Corinne Gruffaz delivered the team’s top performance, finishing a remarkable eighth with 245.359 km. Nathalie Schmitt (38th – 217.173 km) and Océane Chanet (44th – 213.856 km) helped secure France’s fifth place in the team standings with a combined total of 676.388 km. Francine Copy (84th – 187.170 km), Nathalie Derault (88th – 181.828 km), and Hélène Leger (154th – 96.020 km) completed the French lineup.
| Silver for the French Team
The French men’s team made a powerful statement by winning an impressive silver medal. With three runners finishing in the top 20, the French squad covered a combined distance of 791.195 km, just behind Finland, which claimed gold with 797.030 km. The top French performer, Diego Filiu, finished ninth with 266.554 km. Jean-René Delance ended his race with 264.120 km (11th), while Michael Boch followed close behind in 13th place with 260.520 km. Gabriel Noutary, who was at one point in contention for a podium finish, eventually completed 240.642 km (39th). Thomas Lepers (82nd – 212.466 km) and Freddy Prigent (128th – 184.603 km) rounded out the French lineup.
The overall winner was Ukrainian runner Andrii Tkachuk, who surged into the lead late in the day and held firm through the following morning. The world champion, who had briefly hoped to break the 300 km barrier, ultimately finished with 294.346 km after two grueling final hours. The world podium was completed by Norwegian Jo Inge Norum (285.513 km) and Finnish runner Matti Jonkka, who narrowly claimed the bronze with 283.699 km.
In the city of Albi, the French team firmly established itself among the rising powers of ultrarunning. With a team silver medal in the men’s race and several outstanding individual performances, the French men and women proved not only the strength of their legs but, above all, the toughness of their minds.
✔ All the results of the French team
Emma BERT
Journaliste
