Sydney Marathon is hosting some of the greatest long distance athletes in history. Eliud Kipchoge and Sifan Hassan are already in Australia ahead of the Sunday race.

Sydney Marathon is hosting some of the greatest long distance athletes in history.

Eliud Kipchoge and Sifan Hassan are already in Australia ahead of the Sunday race.

 

The Sydney Marathon is poised to make history this weekend as it welcomes two of the greatest long-distance runners of all time — Eliud Kipchoge and Sifan Hassan — to Australian soil for the first time. With the race officially joining the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors circuit, all eyes are on Sydney ahead of Sunday’s landmark event.

Widely regarded as the greatest marathoner in history, Eliud Kipchoge has touched down in Sydney, ready to compete in his first-ever race on Australian soil. The Kenyan superstar is a two-time Olympic gold medallist, a former world record holder, and the only human to run a marathon in under two hours (in a special event in 2019). Kipchoge’s presence marks a major moment for Australian athletics, with fans and fellow athletes alike eager to witness a living legend on the streets of Sydney.

Joining him is Dutch-Ethiopian sensation Sifan Hassan, who arrives fresh from her marathon gold medal performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The four-time Olympic medallist and reigning London and Chicago Marathon champion will make her Australian racing debut on Sunday. Hassan has notably chosen to skip the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo to focus on this race — a decision that underlines the growing global stature of the Sydney Marathon.

“This is a historic moment for our sport,” said Sydney Marathon Race Director Wayne Larden. “To have both Kipchoge and Hassan racing here, in the same event, as we join the Marathon Majors – it’s something Australia has never seen before.”

The event has already smashed records, with over 35,000 entrants expected to line up, making it the largest marathon ever held in Australia. More than 300,000 spectators are expected to fill Sydney’s streets, from North Sydney to the finish line at the Opera House, creating a festival-like atmosphere.

The elite field extends beyond Kipchoge and Hassan, with top contenders including Kenya’s Vincent Ngetich, Ethiopia’s Birhanu Legese, and former world record holder Brigid Kosgei. Australia’s own Jessica Stenson, Lisa Weightman, and Leanne Pompeani will fly the flag for the host nation in a field stacked with world-class talent.

With clear skies forecast and a fast, scenic course that spans the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Circular Quay, race conditions are expected to be ideal. For Kipchoge, now 40, the Sydney Marathon represents both a competitive challenge and a new chapter in his legendary career.

 

“Running in Australia has been a dream of mine,” Kipchoge said. “I believe in the power of sport to inspire, and I hope this race inspires many.”

The Sydney Marathon takes place this Sunday, August 31, with wheelchair athletes beginning at 6:15 am and elite runners from 6:30 am. Roads across North Sydney and the CBD will be closed throughout the morning, with tens of thousands expected to cheer runners along the route.

For Australian fans and international viewers alike, this Sunday promises a marathon unlike any before — one that will be remembered for years to come.