Sydney Marathon becomes athletics’ seventh wonder of the world in stunning development

Australia’s biggest marathon will now become one of the most prestigious in the world after being elevated to the pinnacle of global distance events.

The Sydney Marathon was confirmed on Monday as the seventh member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors in New York, concluding a three-year program to improve the event.

It joins Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York as marathon capitals, attracting the world’s fastest athletes as well as tens of thousands of destination runners.

“This is an extraordinary achievement for Sydney and a transformative moment for Australian athletics,” Athletics Australia president Jane Flemming said on Monday.

“The Abbott World Marathon Majors represent the very best in marathon running, and Sydney joining this elite group is a testament to the dedication, passion and expertise of everyone involved.

“But it’s an achievement that will inspire countless Australians to take up running.”

The Sydney Marathon is a legacy of the 2000 Olympic Games and was first held as a test event five months after the Games.

After 1,200 people took part in that first long circuit of the city, the number slowly grew over the following decades to around 5,000 participants in a wider, mixed-distance festival.

The stunning height to the top of the world’s endurance races will bring the world’s fastest athletes to the port city

After its inception in 2000, the Sydney Marathon has grown from 1,200 runners to more than 5,000 – and that number is now set to make a big leap (photo: Workenesh Edesa, 2024 women’s winner)

The event has been turned upside down since it became a candidate for participation in the Abbott Majors in 2022.

Shorter distance events, including the popular 10km, were scrapped, the course was revamped to eliminate low-speed corners and incentives were introduced to encourage higher race numbers.

The finish was also made many times more spectacular and shifted to the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House.

More than 25,000 people participated in September, and this number is expected to grow to 37,000 by 2027.

Demand for participation in the Abbott Majors always exceeds field size, with Sydney’s nearest neighbor – the Tokyo Marathon – being oversubscribed by around 500,000 entries each year.

It is estimated that the six marathons will collectively generate $1 billion in economic activity.

Destination NSW, which funded Abbott’s bid, estimates the new status will increase visitor spending by $73 million over three years.

“NSW is an unbeatable hotspot for tourists around the world and we look forward to welcoming them next year, delivering a multi-million dollar boost to the economy and an unforgettable experience for runners on one of the most beautiful marathon courses in the world.” NSW Premier Chris Minns said.

Sydney Marathon race director Wayne Larden said community health and charity fundraising would also be major beneficiaries.

“This amazing milestone will have a profound impact on running in Australia and inspire the community to become marathon runners and do something special for themselves, their families and friends,” he said.

Until Sydney’s candidacy began, the Melbourne Marathon was Australia’s largest marathon, with 8100 runners for the 2019 event.