The TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS delivered a celebration of sport, culture and community on an unprecedented scale today, with 35,000 participants from over 100 countries and hundreds of thousands of spectators taking to the streets of Sydney in the event’s first year as an Abbott World Marathon Major.
Breaking the record yet again as Australia’s largest-ever marathon, the event also achieved a record charity fundraising total of over $9 million, underscoring its impact well beyond the course. This smashed last year’s total of $1.46 million and brings the overall charity fundraising figure to $36.2 million since the event’s inception in 2001.
TCS Sydney Marathon’s highest charity fundraising partner, Running For Premature Babies, raised a staggering $480,124, providing vital support for neonatal care and giving thousands of premature babies a stronger start to life.
Sophie Smith, Founder of Running For Premature Babies said:
“Our TCS Sydney Marathon team includes runners born prematurely themselves, parents, family and friends running in celebration of children born prematurely, and others running in memory of their babies who sadly did not survive their prematurity. And of course, we have team members chasing down PB’s, tackling their first ever marathons, and the heroes here to claim their seventh AbbottWMM, all raising funds for our life-saving work as they go!”
Over 4,000 runners took to the start line in Sydney to claim their coveted seventh AbbotWMM “star,” a symbol reserved only for those who have completed all six other Major marathons – Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America, TCS London Marathon, BMW-BERLIN Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon and TCS New York City Marathon and now Sydney. The star is more than just a medal; it represents years of dedication, global travel, and the pursuit of excellence on the world’s greatest marathon stages. To earn it is to join one of the most exclusive clubs in distance running, with Sydney now forever etched into the journeys of thousands of athletes who realised their dream.
Joining Maher was the first Torres Strait Islander female finisher to claim her seventh star, Bianca Graham who collapsed with joy into the arms of Indigenous Marathon Foundation Founder and Australian marathon champion, Robert de Castella, AO, MBE after finishing in an impressive time of 03:28:51.
TCS Sydney Marathon’s First Nations Ambassador Charlie Maher, a proud Western Arrernte man from Alice Springs, ran with purpose in 04:07:31, becoming the first Indigenous Australian man to complete all seven AbbottWMM and claim his seventh star.
Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge stamped his mark in the history books and presented a mould of his footprint to Australian marathon icon Robert de Castella, as a memory of his time spent in Sydney.
Adding to the rich tapestry of the day were the Blue Line Legends, a remarkable group of runners who have completed every single TCS Sydney Marathon since the event’s inception in 2001. Crossing the finish line once again in 2025, they embodied the enduring spirit of the marathon, having covered the course for 24 consecutive years. This inner circle of Sydney’s most dedicated marathoners includes Bob Fickel, Rick Patzold, Jo Tebbutt, Graeme Wye, Eric Schierer and Ray James.
Notable Australians and international personalities flooded the course at the 2025 TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS, running not just for personal glory but to make a difference.
Olympic boxing bronze medalist Harry Garside returned to the course for the second year, bringing the same grit that saw him medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, crossing the line in a searing 02:39:22, improving his time from 2024 by an impressive 16 minutes.
British Paralympian Richard Whitehead MBE, double Paralympic champion, ran on gold blades in his 95th marathon, one of 20 he is completing in 2025, crossing the finish line in 02:56:53.
Channel 9 broadcaster Sylvia Jeffreys returned to the TCS Sydney Marathon debut, shaving 40 minutes off her time; finishing in a time of 04:13:52.
Love Island bombshell Casey O’Gorman made his marathon debut down under, with a time of 04:09:27, and was planning to cap off his achievement with a visit to Bondi Beach.
British ultra-marathoner William Goodge, who holds the record for the fastest run across Australia from Cottesloe Beach, Perth to Bondi Beach, Sydney in just 35 days, tackled the iconic 42.2km course today, completing the marathon in 03:39:09.
Among the many inspiring stories on course, fitness entrepreneur and TCS Sydney Marathon Coach, Ben Lucas marked a personal milestone as he crossed his 50th marathon finish line in a time of 03:19:55.
Pete Deppeler better known to radio audiences as Intern Pete from the Kyle and Jackie O Show finished in a time of 03:55:39 while renowned talent manager and CEO of The Fordham Company, Nick Fordham finished in a time of 04:13:52.
A group of runners also made history today by breaking Guinness World Records. Among the cohort was Bondi Rescue Lifeguard Andrew Reid who set the record for the fastest marathon carrying a surfboard in 03:17:37 whilst also sporting a well-worn pair of thongs. Daniel Byrne claimed the record for the most pairs of underpants worn during a marathon, with 53 pairs.
The streets of Sydney became a celebration not only for runners but for spectators too. Fans packed Oxford Street, creating a rainbow corridor of energy, music, and encouragement that pushed athletes through the challenging middle kilometres. At Sydney Swans HQ, AFL fans and families united to cheer runners on, adding a high-energy, community-driven vibe to the course.
The TCS Sydney Marathon is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The event is owned by Australian Athletics and managed by Pont3.
