From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of marathoners who are athletes notable for their achievements in the marathon. For a list of people notable in other fields who have also run marathons, see List of marathoners who are non-running specialists.

Legend

Tom Longboat was a dominant runner in the 1900s.
Symbol/Column Description
Gold medal in the Olympics, IAAF World Championships or World Marathon Majors
Silver medal in the Olympics, IAAF World Championships or World Marathon Majors
Bronze medal in the Olympics, IAAF World Championships or World Marathon Majors
(#) Placement in any major marathon competition ranked 4th or below
Name Athlete's name
Names in bold are current or former world record holders.
Country Athlete's citizenship during competition
Olympics Placement in the Olympics
IAAF WC Medal years in the IAAF World Championships
WMM Placement in the World Marathon Majors
1st Marathon Victories. Number of times athlete placed first in a marathon (excludes Olympics and World Championships)
Career Best Fastest marathon time during career
Other Other notable information

Men

Haile Gebrselassie is regarded as one of the greatest distance runners in history.
Sohn Kee-chung is the first Korean Olympic Champion in any discipline.
Name Country Olympics IAAF WC WMM 1s Career Best Other Ref
Gezahegne Abera   Ethiopia 2000 2001 5 2:07:54 First to win gold at Olympics and World Championships [1]
Abel Antón   Spain 1997
1999
2 2:07:54 First to win two golds at World Championships
Stefano Baldini   Italy 2004
(12) 2008
2001
2003
3 Two time European champion
Dick Beardsley   United States 3 The "Duel in the Sun" with Alberto Salazar at the 1982 Boston Marathon.
Abebe Bikila   Ethiopia 1960
1964
First black African gold medalist by winning in Rome barefoot, previous world record holder
Gelindo Bordin   Italy 1988 1987 6 Two time European champion
Amby Burfoot   United States 1 2:14:28 Boston Marathon winner
Dionicio Cerón   Mexico 7 2:12:13 [2]
Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot   Kenya 2006/2007
2007/2008
2008/2009
7 2:07:14
Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot   Kenya 2 2:05:52
Waldemar Cierpinski   East Germany 1976
1980
1983
Andrea Cionna   Italy 2:31:59 World record holder for the fastest marathon run by a totally blind man
Derek Clayton   Australia 2:08:34 The first to run a world record under 02:10:00
Robert de Castella   Australia 1983 4 2:07:51 Former marathon world record holder; holds Australian national record
Belayneh Densamo   Ethiopia 7 2:06:50 Held the world record for the span of 10 years.
Leonard Edelen   United States 1964 2:14:28 In 1963, he became the first American to hold the world record since 1925.
Steve Edwards First person to complete 500 sub 3:30:00 marathons [3]
Stefaan Engels   Belgium First person to complete 365 marathons in 365 days [4]
Martín Fiz   Spain (4) 1996 1995
1997
3
Haile Gebrselassie   Ethiopia 2006/2007
2007/2008
2008/2009
9 2:03:59 Winner of many distance racing championships and holder of 27 world records [5]
Jaouad Gharib   Morocco 2008 2003
2005
2:05:27
Rodolfo Gómez   Mexico (19) 1976
(6) 1980
3 2:09:33
Ryan Hall   United States (10) 2008
(DNF) 2012
2:04:58
Hal Higdon   United States Freelance writer for Runner's World; a founder of Road Runners Club of America
Ron Hill   United Kingdom 1964
1972
2:09:28
Hwang Young-Cho   South Korea 1992 3 2:08:09
Juma Ikangaa   Tanzania (6) 1984
(7) 1988
(34) 1992
Steve Jones   United Kingdom 4 2:07:13 Former marathon world record holder
Veikko Karvonen   Finland (5) 1952
Yuki Kawauchi   Japan (18) 2011, 2013 10 2:07:27 More than 100 sub 2:20 marathons
Tsegaye Kebede   Ethiopia 2008 2009 (5) 2008/2009
2009/2010
4 2:05:18
Meb Keflezighi   United States 2004 1 2:08:37
Khalid Khannouchi   Morocco
  United States
5 2:05:42 Former marathon world record holder
Dennis Kipruto Kimetto   Kenya 2:02:57 Former marathon world record holder
Eliud Kipchoge   Kenya 2016 2:01:39 Current marathon world record holder (2018)
Stephen Kiprotich   Uganda 2012 2013 2:07:20
Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich   Kenya 2012 2:03:42 Former marathon world record holder
Abel Kirui   Kenya 2012 2009
2011
2:06:51
Hannes Kolehmainen   Finland 1920
Lee Bong-Ju   South Korea 1996 2:07:20 Winner of the Boston Marathon in 2001
Martin Lel   Kenya 2007/2008
2006/2007
5 2:05:15
Vanderlei de Lima   Brazil 2004
Tom Longboat   Canada
Carlos Lopes   Portugal 1984 2:07:12 Former marathon world record holder
Frederick Lorz   United States 1 Disqualified from 1904 Olympics after crossing first, but legitimately won the Boston Marathon a year later
Spyridon Louis   Greece 1896 First Olympic gold medalist for the marathon
Patrick Makau   Kenya 2011 1 2:03:38 Former marathon world record holder
Deriba Merga   Ethiopia 2 2:06:39
Greg Meyer   United States 2 2:09:00 Won 1983 Boston Marathon
Franjo Mihalić   Independent State of Croatia
  Yugoslavia
1956 1 2:21:24
Alain Mimoun   France 1956
Steve Moneghetti   Australia (5) 1988
1992
1996
(10) 2000
1997
Koichi Morishita   Japan 1992 2 2:08:53
Emmanuel Kipchirchir Mutai   Kenya 2009 1
Takeyuki Nakayama   Japan (4) 1988
(4) 1992
5 2:08:15
Gerard Nijboer   Netherlands 1980 2:09:01
Tsuyoshi Ogata   Japan (12) 2003
2005
(5) 2007
1 2:08:37
Benjamín Paredes   Mexico (8) 1996
(64) 2000
2 2:10:40
Jim Peters   United Kingdom 2:19:22 Set the World Record four times, the first person to have run a sub-2:20:00 marathon.
António Pinto   Portugal 1988
1992
(14) 1996
(11) 2000
4 2:06:36 One of two holders of European record
Orlando Pizzolato   Italy (16) 1988 (7) 1987 3 2:10:57
Hendrick Ramaala   South Africa (12) 2000 (9) 2003
(27) 2007
2 2:09:28
Julio Rey   Spain (37) 2001
2003
(8) 2005
4 2:06:52
Bill Rodgers   United States (40) 1976 22 2:09:27 Posted multiple major victories in the late 1970s. Held the American record multiple times.
Alberto Salazar   United States 4 2:08:13 Won the New York Marathon for 3 consecutive years
Marílson Gomes dos Santos   Brazil 2 2:08:43 First South American to win the New York Marathon
Nobuyuki Sato   Japan 1999 2:08:48
Toshihiko Seko   Japan (14) 1984
(9) 1988
10 2:08:27
Morio Shigematsu   Japan 6 2:12:00 Held world record June 12, 1965 – December 3, 1967
Frank Shorter   United States 1972
1976
2:10:30 Only American to win multiple medals in the Olympic marathon
Silvio Guerra   Ecuador (14) 2000 2 2:09:49 Holds Ecuadorian Marathon Record since 1997
Germán Silva   Mexico (6) 1996 2 2:08:56 Won the New York Marathon for two consecutive years
Fauja Singh   United Kingdom Holder of multiple records in the 90+ age group
Shigeru So   Japan 6 2:09:05
Takeshi So   Japan (4) 1984 4 2:08:55
Sohn Kee-chung   Japan 1936 9 2:25:14 First Korean Olympic Champion in any discipline, while representing Japan. Held the World Record for the longest span of 11.5 years.
Albin Stenroos   France 1924
Toshinari Takaoka   Japan (4) 2005 1 2:06:16
Hiromi Taniguchi   Japan (8) 1992 1991
5 2:07:40
Josia Thugwane   South Africa 1996
(20) 2000
4 2:07:28
Tesfaye Tola   Ethiopia 2000 2:06:57 [6]
Erick Wainaina   Kenya 1996
2000
(7) 2004
(18) 1995 7 2:08:43 One of the few athletes[ clarification needed] in Olympic history to finish in the top 10 at three separate marathons
Samuel Wanjiru   Kenya 2008 (4) 2007/2008
2008/2009
2009/2010
4 2:05:10 Holds current Olympic record
Mamo Wolde   Ethiopia 1968
1972
Dimitrion Yordanidis   Greece Oldest man to complete a marathon, at age 98 [7]
Emil Zátopek   Czechoslovakia 1952
(6) 1956
Won Olympic gold in his first marathon in Olympic record time
Sondre Nordstad Moen   Norway 2:05:48 First european runner to finish under 2:06:00 (Fukuoka, 2017).

Women

Joan Benoit won gold in the first ever women's Olympic marathon during the 1984 games.
Name Country Olympics IAAF WC WMM 1st Career Best Other Ref
Tomoe Abe   Japan 1993 3 2:26:09 Holder of IAAF 100 km Road Women's World Record
Yukiko Akaba   Japan (5) 2011 2:24:08
Elfenesh Alemu   Ethiopia (6) 2000
(4) 2004
3 2:24:29
Yuko Arimori   Japan 1992
1996
2 2:26:39
Junko Asari   Japan 1993 3 2:26:10
Joan Benoit   United States 1984 3 2:21:21 First female gold medalist in women's marathon
Carla Beurskens   Netherlands (22) 1984
(34) 1988
(17) 1987 14 2:28:27
Joyce Chepchumba   Kenya 2000 2:23:22
Masako Chiba   Japan 2003 4 2:21:45
Zhou Chunxiu   China 2008 2:19:51
Constantina Diţă-Tomescu   Romania 2008 1 2:21:30
Adriana Fernández   Mexico 1 2:24:06 First Mexican woman to win the New York City Marathon, in a time of 2:25:06
Franca Fiacconi   Italy (13) 1997 1 2:25:17
Katrin Dörre-Heinig   East Germany
  Germany
1988
(5) 1992
(4) 1996
1991
(6) 1993
17 2:24:35
Kayoko Fukushi   Japan 2013 2:24:21
Jacqueline Gareau   Canada (5) 1983 3 2:30:58
Tiki Gelana   Ethiopia 2012 1 2:18:58
Bobbi Gibb   United States 3 First woman to run the entire Boston Marathon
Kara Goucher   United States (10) 2009 2:25:53
Lidiya Grigoryeva   Russia 4 2:25:10
Ari Ichihashi   Japan 1999 2:27:02
Helena Javornik 3 2:27:33
Priscah Jeptoo   Kenya 2012 2011 2:20:14
Olivera Jevtić   Serbia 4 2:25:23
Deena Kastor   United States 2004 2:19:36
Mary Keitany   Kenya 2010/2011 2:18:37
Edna Kiplagat   Kenya 2010/2011 2:19:50
Lornah Kiplagat   Kenya 4 2:22:22
Renata Kokowska   Poland 3 2:26:20
Brigid Kosgei   Kenya} 2:14:04 Current marathon world record holder (2019)
Salina Kosgei   Kenya 2009/2010 2:23:22
Ingrid Kristiansen   Norway 1987
(7) 1991
15 2:21:06 One of the best female distance runners in the 1980s
Véronique Marot   United Kingdom (16) 1992 (22) 1987 4 2:25:56
Lisa Martin   Australia 1988 5 2:23:51
Catherina McKiernan   Ireland 3 2:22:23 Multiple medalist at the World Cross Country Championships.
Irina Mikitenko   Germany 2007/2008
2008/2009
2009/2010
2:19:19
Lorraine Moller   New Zealand (5) 1984
(33) 1988
1992
(46) 1992
9 2:28:17
Rosa Mota   Portugal 1984
1988
1987 6 2:23:29 Awarded 1988 Abebe Bikila Award
Catherine Ndereba   Kenya 2004
2008
2003
2005
2007
7 2:18:47
Mizuki Noguchi   Japan 2004 2003 5 2:19:12 Asia Record holder, Course Record holder of Berlin Marathon
Yoshimi Ozaki   Japan 2009 2 2:23:130
Tatyana Petrova Arkhipova   Russia 2012 2:23:29
Uta Pippig   East Germany
  Germany
(6) 1991 2:21:45 First woman to win the Boston Marathon three consecutive times
Jeļena Prokopčuka   Latvia 2 3 2:24:41 2:25:05
Paula Radcliffe   United Kingdom 2005 8 2:15:25 Holder of several long distance world records
Fatuma Roba   Ethiopia 1996
(9) 2000
(19) 1995
(13) 2001
5 2:23:21
Allison Roe   New Zealand 2 2:25:29
Yoko Shibui   Japan 4 2:19:41
Liliya Shobukhova   Russia 2009/2010
2010/2011
2:18:20
Lidia Șimon   Romania 2000 2:22:54
Hiromi Suzuki   Japan 1997 2 2:26:27
Kathrine Switzer   United States 1 2:51:37 First woman to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entry
Naoko Takahashi   Japan 2000 7 2:19:46
Reiko Tosa   Japan 2001
2007
3 2:22:46
Grete Waitz   Norway 1984 1983 13 2:24:54
Gete Wami   Ethiopia 2006/2007
2007/2008
4 2:21:34
Sachiko Yamashita   Japan (4) 1992 1991 2:29:57
Valentina Yegorova   Russia 1992
1996
1 2:23:33


References

  1. ^ "Gezahegne Abera". Global Athletics and Marketing Inc. Archived from the original on 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
  2. ^ "Dionicio Cerón". IAAF. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
  3. ^ Cotswolds runner Steve Edwards sets world marathon record
  4. ^ "Stefaan Engels completes 365 marathons in 365 days".
  5. ^ "What makes Gebrselassie great?". Joe Battaglia. NBC Universal Sports. 2010-11-05. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  6. ^ "iaaf.org - Athletes". Archived from the original on 2012-10-11.
  7. ^ "Guinness World Record: Great Greeks". Guinness World Record. Guinness World Record. 2010. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2010-11-14.