2026 London Marathon facts for kids
The 2026 London Marathon was the 46th time this famous race took place. It happened on April 26, 2026, in London, England. This exciting event is one of the biggest marathons in the world.
The race route took runners through many famous London sights. It started from three different spots near Greenwich Park and Blackheath. The finish line was at The Mall, right in front of Buckingham Palace. Along the way, runners passed landmarks like the Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, and Canary Wharf.
This year's London Marathon was incredibly popular! Over 1.1 million people wanted to enter, setting a new world record for entries. But what made this race truly special were the amazing new records set by the athletes.
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2026 London Marathon: A Race for the Record Books
The 2026 London Marathon will be remembered as one of the most historic races ever. Athletes pushed the limits of human endurance, achieving incredible new milestones.
Amazing Achievements and New Records
This marathon saw several "firsts" and new world records. A world record means someone ran faster or further than anyone else in history for that specific event.
Men's Elite Race Highlights
In the men's race, Sabastian Sawe made history. He became the first person ever to complete a marathon in under two hours! His incredible time was 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds. This was a moment many thought was impossible.
Another runner, Yomif Kejelcha, also finished in under two hours. He set the record for the fastest time ever for a runner who didn't win the race. He also had the fastest marathon debut (first time running a marathon) in history. Even the third-place finisher, Jacob Kiplimo, ran faster than the previous world record! This shows how incredibly fast this race was.
Women's Elite Race Highlights
The women's race was just as thrilling. Tigst Assefa set a brand new world record for a women-only marathon. This means she ran faster than any woman before her in a race where only women competed.
Race Results: Who Won?
Here are the top finishers from the 2026 London Marathon. These athletes trained incredibly hard to achieve their amazing results.
Top Male Runners
Sabastian Sawe's record-breaking run was partly helped by his special running shoes. He wore a new, very light model called the Pro Evo 3 from Adidas. These "super shoes" weigh only about 97 grams!
| Position | Athlete | Nationality | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Sabastian Sawe |  Kenya |
1:59:30 WR |
 |
Yomif Kejelcha |  Ethiopia |
1:59:41 NR |
 |
Jacob Kiplimo |  Uganda |
2:00:28 NR |
| 4 | Amos Kipruto | Kenya |
2:01:39 |
| 5 | Tamirat Tola | Ethiopia |
2:02:59 |
| 6 | Deresa Geleta | Ethiopia |
2:03:23 |
| 7 | Addisu Gobena | Ethiopia |
2:05:23 |
| 8 | Geoffrey Kamworor | Kenya |
2:05:38 |
| 9 | Peter Lynch |  Ireland |
2:06:08 NR |
| 10 | Mahamed Mahamed |  United Kingdom |
2:06:14 |
Top Female Runners
Tigst Assefa led an incredibly fast women's field, setting a new world record for a women-only race.
| Position | Athlete | Nationality | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Tigst Assefa | Ethiopia |
2:15:41 WoWR |
|
Hellen Obiri | Kenya |
2:15:53 |
|
Joyciline Jepkosgei | Kenya |
2:15:55 |
| 4 | Degitu Azimeraw | Ethiopia |
2:19:13 |
| 5 | Catherine Amanang'ole | Kenya |
2:21:20 |
| 6 | Eunice Chebichii Chumba |  Bahrain |
2:23:44 |
| 7 | Eilish McColgan | United Kingdom |
2:24:51 |
| 8 | Julia Paternain |  Uruguay |
2:25:47 NR |
| 9 | Rose Harvey | United Kingdom |
2:26:14 |
| 10 | Marta Galimany |  Spain |
2:27:38 |
Wheelchair Men's Race
The wheelchair races also featured incredible athletes. Marcel Hug won the men's wheelchair event with a fantastic time.
| Position | Athlete | Nationality | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Marcel Hug |  Switzerland |
1:24:13 |
|
Luo Xingchuan |  China |
1:28:46 |
|
David Weir | United Kingdom |
1:29:23 |
| 4 | Tomoki Suzuki |  Japan |
1:30:05 |
| 5 | Jetze Plat |  Netherlands |
1:31:04 |
| 6 | Sho Watanabe | Japan |
1:31:42 |
| 7 | Hiroki Kishizawa | Japan |
1:31:43 |
| 8 | Evan Correll |  United States |
1:32:03 |
| 9 | Geert Schipper | Netherlands |
1:33:53 |
| 10 | Ludwig Malter |  Austria |
1:33:54 |
Wheelchair Women's Race
Catherine Debrunner was the winner of the women's wheelchair race, showing amazing strength and speed.
| Position | Athlete | Nationality | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Catherine Debrunner | Switzerland |
1:38:29 |
|
Tatyana McFadden | United States |
1:38:34 |
|
Manuela Schär | Switzerland |
1:41:21 |
| 4 | Yajuan Tian | China |
1:46:59 |
| 5 | Zhaoqian Zhou | China |
1:46:59 |
| 6 | Tsubasa Nakamine | Japan |
1:47:01 |
| 7 | Madison de Rozario |  Australia |
1:47:01 |
| 8 | Vanessa Cristina de Souza |  Brazil |
1:47:01 |
| 9 | Patricia Eachus | Switzerland |
1:48:00 |
| 10 | Christie Dawes | Australia |
1:48:38 |
