© Thomas Lovelock / London Marathon
London Marathon 2025: Key Figures from a Supersonic Edition
The London Marathon never disappoints. The world’s largest marathon has once again delivered a flawless edition. 56,640 runners received the coveted finisher’s medal. London has thus dethroned New York and now holds the top spot for the highest number of finishers in a marathon. This 45th edition of the London Marathon will be especially remembered for the world record set by Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa.
| London Dethrones New York
The record was known to be at risk, and London made short work of New York. The event had already set the stage by breaking the world record for registration requests : 840,318 runners tried their luck to secure the precious bib. A truly extraordinary number.
Across the Atlantic, the record for the most marathon finishers, previously held by New York, was teetering. On Sunday, April 27, 2025, 56,640 brave runners crossed the finish line at The Mall, near Buckingham Palace. London thus sent the 55,646 finishers of the 2024 New York Marathon into the history books!
| A Supersonic Edition
The London Marathon 2025 lived up to all its promises, with exceptional performances. Ethiopian Tigist Assefa made history by breaking the world record in a women’s only race, crossing the line in 2h15’50. For the men, the prestigious lineup hinted at a highly competitive race: the presence of the world record holder for the half marathon Jacob Kiplimo, Olympic marathon champion Tamirat Tola, and legends Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele, promised a memorable showdown. Although the scenario wasn’t exactly as expected, running enthusiasts were treated to a highly intense race. Kenyan Sebastian Sawe claimed victory with an impressive time of 2h02’27, marking the second-best time in London Marathon history. Jacob Kiplimo, 2nd in 2h03’37, proved that he too will be a force to be reckoned with in the marathon distance.
| Para Athletes at Full Speed
In a wheelchair, Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner dominated the event in 1h34’18, setting a new course record, while Marcel Hug continued his dominance by winning a fifth consecutive victory in 1h25’25. On the British side, Eilish McColgan made waves by becoming the first British woman to finish, setting a new Scottish record in 2h24’25, thus erasing the one held by her mother, Liz McColgan, since 1996. Among the men, Mahamed Mahamed stood out by finishing as the top Brit and UK Athletics champion thanks to a solid ninth place.
| 44 Guinness World Records in One Race
Elite athletes weren’t the only ones to distinguish themselves with their performances this Sunday. Indeed, many runners were present to attempt breaking some of the world’s most unique records, aiming for a spot in the highly coveted Guinness World Records. Notably, the new world record for a man running a marathon in a suit was set by Soh Rui Yong with a blazing time of 2h39’57, as well as the marathon in foam clogs (men), completed in 2h48’48. Even more unusual, the world records for men and women running a marathon in a crustacean costume were also broken. In total, 44 Guinness World Records were set during the event.
| Supportive Runners at the Forefront
Since 1981, the London Marathon, created by Olympic champion Chris Brasher, has been one of the most charitable events in the world. From its first edition, the British event has raised funds for numerous associations. To encourage donations, some runners use their world record attempts as a visibility platform. During this 2025 edition, £67 million was raised for charitable causes. Pancreatic Cancer UK was designated the official charity of the year. Since its inception, the London Marathon has raised over a billion pounds for charitable causes.
| 800,000 Spectators in the Streets of London
With nearly 800,000 spectators gathered along the course, the London Marathon 2025 reaffirms its status as a true popular celebration. From the banks of the Thames to the vicinity of Tower Bridge, through the bustling streets of Westminster to the majestic finish on The Mall, the enthusiasm of Londoners and visitors never wanes. Songs, cheers, colorful signs: the energy of the crowd turns every kilometer into a powerful moment, driven by a contagious fervor. This massive support contributes to making the London Marathon one of the most spectacular and welcoming events on the global circuit.
| A Date to Remember: April 26, 2026
The date for the next edition of the London Marathon is set: see you on April 26, 2026 to experience one of the world’s greatest races. The bibs promise, once again, to go fast for this mythical experience in the British capital. Several options are available to you to secure your bib: lottery, charity bib, travel agency, etc. This article explains in detail how to register for the London Marathon.
✔ How to Register for the London Marathon 2026?
The London Marathon is taking a new step ahead in the race for the title of the world’s largest marathon. With over 56,000 finishers this year, can London envisage breaking the symbolic barrier of 60,000 participants? We’ll find out on April 26, 2026.
