Will records be broken? That is the big question before this year’s London Marathon on Sunday.
Race director Hugh Brasher declared the event’s 45th edition had “the greatest elite fields in the history of the London Marathon” after a stellar line-up was announced in January.
Despite the late withdrawal of women’s world record holder Ruth Chepngetich and 2024 champion Peres Jepchirchir, the women’s race still features the second and third fastest athletes of all time.
That includes Sifan Hassan, one of four reigning Olympic and Paralympic marathon champions contesting this year’s event, who returns for the first time since her remarkable comeback victory on her debut in 2023.
Two of the five fastest men in history line up in the men’s race, led by record four-time champion Eliud Kipchoge, while half marathon world record holder Jacob Kiplimo will make his eagerly anticipated debut over 26.2 miles.
Meanwhile, the elite wheelchair events feature Swiss athletes Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner – the world and course record holders.
So who will win – and will they secure a piece of history and a lucrative bonus?
A course record in the men’s (two hours one minute 25 seconds) or women’s (2:16:16) elite fields is worth an additional $25,000 (£19,000), while anyone breaking a world record (2:00:35 men, 2:16:16 women) will receive $125,000 (£94,000).
