In brief
Sydney has officially been designated as the seventh World Major Marathon, recognized for its escalating participation and logistical improvements, set to join the elite racing community in 2025.
The Sydney Marathon, which took place in September 2024, has officially been recognized as the seventh World Major Marathon, joining the elite ranks of iconic races like New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Berlin, and Tokyo. Announced on the same day as the New York City Marathon, this designation follows a thorough three-year evaluation by the organizers of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Dawn Stone, the chief executive of the organization, commended the Sydney team for their dedication to improving their event's operations and overall experience, highlighting the impressive achievement of surpassing 20,000 finishers during the recent race. This addition marks the first new entrant into the major marathon circle since Tokyo’s inclusion in 2013.With this new status, the Sydney Marathon will be part of a collaborative program known as the "Six Star finishers," allowing dedicated marathoners who complete all major races to achieve a prestigious milestone. Sydney's inclusion will transform this into a "Seven Star program," with aspirations for further expansion, potentially introducing Cape Town and Shanghai into the fold.The Sydney Marathon has seen remarkable growth recently, with participation numbers skyrocketing from 5,000 runners in 2022 to an anticipated 33,000 by the next race scheduled for August 31, 2025. This sharp rise in interest emphasizes the event's increasing prominence and the vibrant running culture being fostered in Australia.
