Sifan Hassan, Tamirat Tola, Catherine Debrunner and Marcel Hug – the complete set of reigning Olympic and Paralympic marathon champions – will all race in the 2025 TCS London Marathon.
It will be the first time back to the TCS London Marathon for Hassan (NED) since she won in remarkable fashion in 2023 in what was her marathon debut. After falling behind the leaders and seemingly out of contention for victory, Hassan produced a staggering finish on the streets of London to claw her way back to the front and then sprint to victory on The Mall.It proved to be a near-template for her 2024 Paris Olympic Games marathon victory. Having already won bronze medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m on the track, Hassan appeared to be losing contact with the leaders of the Olympic marathon, only to once again find a way to recover and then use her famous finish to win the sprint for gold.
Hassan, who won the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 2023 and is the only woman in the history of athletics to win Olympic gold over 5,000m, 10,000m and the marathon, said: “It feels so special to come back to the TCS London Marathon. This is where I ran my very first marathon and began my journey in this incredible distance. London is also where I learned to be patient, to trust myself, and to keep pushing even when it feels impossible. It is a place where I grew, not just as an athlete, but as a person.
“The TCS London Marathon means so much – not only to me but to so many people. I see people taking part for charity, for loved ones and even children running, many for the first time, at the TCS Mini London Marathon. This is what makes it so beautiful. I am excited to return, to race alongside the best athletes in the world and to share the course with everyone who is chasing their own dreams.”
Debrunner (SUI) has a strong claim to be the most dominant athlete in any sport in the world at the moment. She won an incredible five gold medals at the Paralympic Games in Paris, with wins in the 400m, 800m, 1,500m, 5,000m and marathon showcasing her impressive range.
She is also the reigning TCS London Marathon champion and holds the course record of 1:38:24 which she set at her first victory in London in 2022.
Debrunner said: “The Paris Paralympic Games was an unforgettable experience for me. Winning five gold medals is something that you normally only dream about. But that is in the past now. My focus is on continuing to improve and to compete for victory in the biggest races in the world and that, of course, includes the TCS London Marathon.”
Tola (ETH) proved himself to be one of the marathon stars of his generation with his win on the gruelling Paris Olympics course in 2024. It came two years after he was crowned world champion for the marathon in Oregon. Tola also has a TCS New York City Marathon victory on his CV from 2023 but, after four visits to London, his best result to date was third in 2023.
Tola said: “Winning the Paris Olympic Marathon was the greatest moment of my running career but I don’t want it to be my last great moment. I want to continue competing for the biggest titles in this sport and the TCS London Marathon is very much one of those. I know that London always brings the best marathon racers in the world together so it will not be easy, but it is my ambition to win this historic race for the first time in April.”
In the men’s wheelchair race, Paralympic champion Hug (SUI) continues his quest to become the most decorated athlete in London Marathon history.
In 2024 he became the first men’s wheelchair athlete to win four successive London Marathons, and Hug’s tally of victories in the UK capital now stands at six, two behind the all-time record for the event, currently held by Britain’s David Weir.
Hug, who is also the London Marathon course record holder, said: “Honestly, I don’t think too much about records. It is, of course, nice to create records but my focus is always on the next race and performing to my best. I love coming to race in London, it’s one of the highlights of my year and I’m already looking forward to returning this year.”
The 2025 TCS London Marathon Elite Week announcements will continue throughout this week. The 2025 edition of the event will take place on Sunday 27 April.