The Sydney Marathon is a marathon held annually in Sydney, Australia. The event was first held on the 30th of April 2000 and called The Host City Marathon as a test event for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, and has continued every year since, as a legacy of the 2000 Summer Olympics.[2] The marathon is categorized as a Platinum Label Road Race by World Athletics. Previously held in the middle of September, the race moved to late August from 2025, as part of its elevation to the World Marathon Majors.[3][4][5]
The Sydney Marathon started in April 2000, following the same course as the marathon during the 2000 Summer Olympics.[3][7] The women's race in 2001 was won by Krishna Stanton, who had never run a marathon before, and was doing the event as a result of a challenge from a friend.[7]
The 2020 in-person edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all entries automatically transferred to 2021, and all registrants given the option of also running the race virtually for free.[a][10][11]Moses Kibet won the 2022 race in 2:07:02, a new course record, and the fastest marathon time run on Australian soil.[3]
In July 2022, organisers of the race announced that they were applying to be added to the list of World Marathon Majors. Following two consecutive successful assessments as a candidate race, the marathon was elevated to the series on 4 November 2024, and ran its first race as a World Marathon Major on 31 August 2025.[12][5] The 2025 Sydney Marathon produced the fastest times ever recorded in Australia in both the men's and women's events, with Hailemaryam Kiros beating the previous record set by Brimin Kipkorir in 2024 by 12 seconds, and Sifan Hassan beating Workenesh Edesa's 2024 time by over four minutes.[13]
Course
The marathon course initially followed the same course that was used in the 2000 Summer Olympics.[7]
In 2010 the marathon course was changed to flatten it out which, according to the organisers, makes it "a faster, more scenic and spectator friendly course."[14]
The marathon runs on a point-to-point course that begins in North Sydney, crosses over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, runs through Pyrmont and The Rocks, down Oxford Street and Anzac Parade towards Kingsford, before returning to the city via Moore Park and Centennial Park, ending in front of the Sydney Opera House.[3][15]
Other awards
To date, eight runners have competed in every Sydney Marathon, and have been dubbed "Blue Line Legends".[16]
In addition, runners who have completed at least 10 marathons are eligible to be inducted into the Bridge Club.[17][b]
Other races
In addition to the marathon, a 10 kilometres (6.2mi) race and a 4.2 kilometres (2.6mi) "Mini Marathon" are also held as part of the event.
The 10km race was added in 2002, before being reduced to 9 kilometres (5.6mi) in 2005. It has since returned to being an AIMS certified 10 kilometres (6.2mi) distance, ending at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
The "Mini Marathon" is run the day before the full marathon, and also finishes at the Sydney Opera House.
The event also featured a half marathon distance, which was last run in 2023. It was removed as part of Sydney's candidacy for the World Marathon Majors.
Notes
↑ Before being cancelled, it was postponed to 8 November 2020, with all registrants given the option of obtaining a 75% refund or transferring their entry to another runner or to 2021.[9]
↑ The marathons do not have to be run on consecutive years.[17]
↑ "Archived copy". www.worldathletics.org. Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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Hailemaryam Kiros 
Sifan Hassan 
