During the New York City Marathon, officials announced that the Sydney Marathon had achieved a significant milestone by becoming the seventh race to join the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors (WMM). This inclusion makes Sydney the first WMM event in the southern hemisphere, joining other iconic marathons in major cities like New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Tokyo, and Berlin.
Earlier in the year, the Abbott World Marathon Majors had set a goal to expand the series by adding a seventh race in 2025. Sydney, Cape Town, and Chengdu were identified as potential candidates, with Sydney successfully securing its spot. This move reflects the WMM’s commitment to global expansion and offering runners worldwide the opportunity to participate in renowned marathon events.
With Sydney now part of the WMM, runners, particularly those in the southern hemisphere, will find it more accessible to pursue the coveted Abbott Six Star Medal for completing all WMM races. While the Six Star Medal program will continue, Abbott has hinted at the introduction of new awards to recognize participants’ achievements.
The final assessment of the Sydney Marathon’s inclusion in the WMM occurred during the 2024 race, which also hosted the Abbott World Marathon Majors Wanda Age Group World Championships. The event witnessed notable victories, with Othmane El Goumri from Morocco and Betsy Saina from the United States triumphing in the men’s and women’s races, respectively.
More than 17,000 participants took part in the Sydney Marathon, navigating a course that showcased the city’s iconic landmarks, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. The marathon’s challenging elevation changes added both scenic beauty and a level of difficulty akin to the renowned New York City Marathon.
Looking ahead, the Abbott World Marathon Majors are considering the addition of more races to their roster. South Africa’s Cape Town Marathon and China’s Chengdu Marathon are potential candidates for inclusion in the WMM by 2027, further expanding the series’ global footprint and providing runners with new destination marathons to experience.
The inclusion of Sydney as a World Marathon Major signifies a significant development in the global running community, offering runners diverse opportunities to participate in prestigious events and strive for personal achievements on an international stage.
As the WMM continues to evolve and grow, the addition of new races like the Sydney Marathon demonstrates the enduring appeal and popularity of marathon running as a sport that transcends geographical boundaries and unites athletes from around the world in pursuit of excellence and personal milestones.
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