The London Marathon is an annual marathon which has been held in the city since 1981. It is typically held in April, around the River Thames, starting in Blackheath and finishing at The Mall.
The race, largely known for its flat course, has become one of the most popular in the world, attracting some of the world’s best athletes.
It’s also one of the fastest marathon majors, with seven world records set over the 42.195km course.
Eliud Kipchoge’s course record from 2019 (2:02:37), Mary Keitany’s 2017 women’s course record (2:17:01), and Paula Radcliffe’s mixed marathon world record from 2003 (2:15:25) all still stand.
World records have been broken six times at the London Marathon. Norway’s Grete Waitz became the first London Marathon world record holder in 1983 (2:25:29).
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Khalid Khannouchi of the USA is the only man to ever set a world record at the London Marathon (2:05:38) in 2002.
London marathon: Past winners (Men)
- 1981 Dick Beardsley (USA) and Inge Simonsen (NOR) both 2:11:48
- 1982 Hugh Jones (GBR) 2:09:24
- 1983 Mike Gratton (GBR) 2:09:43
- 1984 Charlie Spedding (GBR) 2:09:57
- 1985 Steve Jones (GBR) 2:08:16
- 1986 Toshihiko Seko (JPN) 2:10:02
- 1987 Hironi Taniuchi (JPN) 2:09:50
- 1988 Henrik Jorgensen (DEN) 2:10:20
- 1989 Douglas Wakiihuri (KEN) 2:09:03
- 1990 Alister Hutton (GBR) 2:10:10
- 1991 Yakov Tolstikov (USSR) 2:09:17
- 1992 Antonio Pinto (POR) 2:10:02
- 1993 Eamonn Martin (GBR) 2:10:50
- 1994 Dionicio Ceron (MEX) 2:08:53
- 1995 Dionicio Ceron (MEX) 2:08:30
- 1996 Dionicio Ceron (MEX) 2:10:00
- 1997 Antonio Pinto (POR) 2:07:55
- 1998 Abel Anton (ESP) 2:07:57
- 1999 Abdelkader El Mouaziz (MAR) 2:07:57
- 2000 Antonio Pinto (POR) 2:06:36
- 2001 Abdelkader El Mouaziz (MAR) 2:07:11
- 2002 Khalid Khannouchi (USA)2:05:38
- 2003 Gezahegne Abera (ETH) 2:07:56
- 2004 Evans Rutto (KEN) 2:06:18
- 2005 Martin Lel (KEN) 2:07:26
- 2006 Felix Limo (KEN) 2:06:39
- 2007 Martin Lel (KEN) 2:07:41
- 2008 Martin Lel (KEN) 2:05:15
- 2009 Samuel Wanjiru (KEN) 2:05:10
- 2010 Tsegaye Kebede (ETH) 2:05:19
- 2011 Emmanuel Mutai (KEN) 2:04:40
- 2012 Wilson Kipsang (KEN) 2:04:44
- 2013 Tsegaye Kebede (ETH)2:06:04
- 2014 Wilson Kipsang (KEN) 2:04:29
- 2015 Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) 2:04:42
- 2016 Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) 2:03:05
- 2017 Daniel Wanjiru (KEN) 2:05:48
- 2018 Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) 2:04:17
- 2019 Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) 2:02:37
- 2020 Shura Kitata (ETH) 2:05:41***
- 2021 Sisay Lemma (ETH) 2:04:01
- 2022 Amos Kipruto (KEN) 2:04:39
- 2023 Kelvin Kiptum (KEN) (2:01:25)
- 2024 Alexander Mutiso(KEN) (02:04:01)
Also Read: World Record Holder Ruth Chepngetich Eye Greater Heights At London Marathon 2025
London marathon: Past winners (Women)
- 1981 Joyce Smith (GBR) 2:29:57
- 1982 Joyce Smith (GBR) 2:29:43
- 1983 Grete Waitz (NOR) 2:25:29
- 1984 Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) 2:24:26
- 1985 Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) 2:21:06
- 1986 Grete Waitz (NOR) 2:24:54
- 1987 Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) 2:22:48
- 1988 Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR 2:25:41
- 1989 Veronique Marot (GBR) 2:26:56
- 1990 Wanda Panfil (POL) 2:26:31
- 1991 Rosa Mota (POR) 2:26:14
- 1992 Katrin Dorre (GER) 2:27:39
- 1993 Katrin Dorre (GER) 2:27:09
- 1994 Katrin Dorre (GER) 2:32:34
- 1995 Malgorzata Sobanska (POL) 2:27:43
- 1996 Liz McColgan (GBR) 2:27:54
- 1997 Joyce Chepchumba (KEN) 2:26:51
- 1998 Catherina McKiernan (IRL) 2:26:26
- 1999 Joyce Chepchumba (KEN) 2:23:22
- 2000 Tegla Loroupe (KEN) 2:24:33
- 2001 Derartu Tulu (ETH) 2:23:57
- 2002 Paula Radcliffe (GBR) 2:18:56
- 2003 Paula Radcliffe (GBR) 2:15:25
- 2004 Margaret Okayo (KEN) 2:22:35
- 2005 Paula Radcliffe (GBR) 2:17:42
- 2006 Deena Kastor (USA) 2:19:36
- 2007 Zhou Chunxiu (CHN) 2:20:38
- 2008 Irina Mikitenko (GER) 2:24:14
- 2009 Irina Mikitenko (GER) 2:22:11
- 2010 Aselefech Mergia (ETH) 2:22:38 **
- 2011 Mary Keitany (KEN) 2:19:19
- 2012 Mary Keitany (KEN) 2:18:37
- 2013 Priscah Jeptoo (KEN) 2:20:15
- 2014 Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 2:20:21
- 2015 Tigist Tufa (ETH) 2:23:22
- 2016 Jemima Sumgong (KEN/) 2:22:58
- 2017 Mary Keitany (KEN) 2:17:01
- 2018 Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:18:31
- 2019 Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 2:18:20
- 2020 Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 2:18:58 ***
- 2021 Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) 2:17:43
- 2022 Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH) 2:17:253
- 2023 Sifan Hassan (NTH) (2:18:33)
- 2024 Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) (02:16:16)
