In brief
The Sydney Marathon has received recognition as the seventh World Major Marathon, a coveted title that aligns it with elite races such as those in New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Berlin, and Tokyo. This announcement came just as participants completed the New York City Marathon, underlining a period of significant growth for Sydney's event.
In a statement, Abbott World Marathon Majors CEO, Dawn Stone, highlighted the efforts behind Sydney's accomplishment, emphasizing that the city’s marathon had experienced a remarkable transformation over the past three years. This accolade was awarded following a review process that scrutinized various operational elements, notably after Sydney surpassed 20,000 finishers during its 2024 race in September.The Sydney Marathon's designation as a World Major marks the first addition to this elite list since Tokyo was included in 2013. The concept of a "Six Star" finishers program—which celebrates runners who complete all six major marathons—will expand to accommodate Sydney, evolving into a “Seven Star” program, with aspirations for future expansion to a potential “Nine Star” program, which may also include marathons from Cape Town and Shanghai.Participation figures in recent years highlight the rising popularity of the Sydney Marathon; entrants surged from 5,000 in 2022 to 25,000 in 2024. Looking ahead, the New South Wales government anticipates that 33,000 runners will register for the next event, slated for August 31, 2025. This rapid growth underscores Sydney's commitment to enhancing the marathon experience and its appeal to runners worldwide.
