In brief
The Sydney Marathon has officially been designated as a World Major Marathon, rewarding its substantial growth and popularity. With expectations for continued participation and the potential for further expansion in race recognition, the event is set for new heights by 2025.
As the notable New York City Marathon concluded, another significant announcement reverberated through the global sports community: the Sydney Marathon has achieved a prestigious designation, allowing it to join the ranks of distinguished races like New York, Boston, Chicago, and London as the seventh World Major Marathon. This announcement, made on Sunday, followed a rigorous three-year assessment process, propelled by a significant surge in participant numbers for its 2024 race held this past September, which reportedly boasted over 20,000 finishers.Dawn Stone, Chief Executive of Abbott World Marathon Majors, emphasized the dedication of the Sydney team, stating, "The team in Sydney has been working towards this day, every day, for more than three years. To see the improvement in their operations and event experience has been deeply impressive." Sydney’s recognition is historic as it is the first marathon to be included since Tokyo’s addition in 2013, which expanded the original group of five cities (New York, Boston, Chicago, London, and Berlin).With the inclusion of Sydney, the racing circuit will now expand its "Six Star" finishers program—exclusive to runners completing all six World Major Marathons—to a "Seven Star" program. Future ambitions could propel this into a “Nine Star” program, with other cities like Cape Town and Shanghai also being considered for similar recognition.In terms of participation, the growth of the Sydney Marathon has been remarkable. From just 5,000 entrants in 2022, the race saw a surge to 25,000 in 2024, and the New South Wales government anticipates that registrations could hit 33,000 for the upcoming event scheduled for August 31, 2025. This reflects not only Sydney's rising profile in the marathon circuit but also highlights the growing interest and involvement in long-distance running events on a global scale, marking a pivotal moment for runners and enthusiasts alike.
