Sports
Sydney Marathon Draws Elite Field Amid Bizarre Medal Gaffe
With 40,000 runners and 1,027 feet of elevation gain, the Australian race joins the World Marathon Majors with a stellar field and an unusual medal mistake.
The Sydney Marathon attracts over 40,000 runners with a challenging course and top world-class elite athletes. This edition also drew attention for a curious design gaffe on the official finisher medal.
The Sydney Marathon is experiencing a moment of global consolidation. For the edition bringing together more than 40,000 runners, organizers recorded approximately 123,000 lottery applicants. The growth is remarkable: in 2022, the event drew around 5,000 participants, and in just a few years, it has transformed into one of the sport's premier stages, joining the elite ranks of the World Marathon Majors.
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Scenic course and demanding elevation
The course begins in the northern part of the city, crosses the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, and finishes in front of the Sydney Opera House. Despite the visual appeal, the route commands respect from runners: it features 313 meters (1,027 feet) of total elevation gain, giving the race the highest accumulated climb among all the World Marathon Majors. While there are significant downhill sections throughout the 26.2 miles (42 km), the volume of climbing demands meticulous pacing.
In addition to the main marathon, the schedule includes a 5K race on Saturday, an expo at Sydney Olympic Park, and four days of community activations.
Elite field and a notable absence
The elite start line brings together top global track and field stars, led by World Athletics champions Alphons Simbu and Peres Chepchirchir. The race also marks the marathon debut of Ethiopian star Hagos Gebrhiwet, an international standout in the 5,000 meters. In total, the field boasts 14 men with personal bests under 2:05 and 10 women sub-2:20.
The most notable withdrawal is course record-holder Sifan Hassan, who will not line up to defend her title due to an Achilles tendon injury. Behind the scenes, the presence of sports manager and organizer Luis Felipe Posso reflects the technical coordination with World Athletics during the race's internationalization process.
The official medal mix-up
Alongside the athletic anticipation, an unusual detail made headlines behind the scenes: race organizers made an error when engraving the stadium featured on the finisher medal. Instead of depicting Sydney's Allianz Stadium, the final artwork featured the facade of Munich's Allianz Arena in Germany.
With more than 40,000 medals already manufactured for the finishers, organizers issued a formal apology, leaving the medals to serve as a quirky keepsake for race participants.
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