Sydney Marathon: Massive queues at toilets

Gross video footage has captured huge queues for the toilets under the Harbor Bridge ahead of the iconic Sydney Marathon.

A record number of runners kicked off the biggest marathon in Australia’s history on Sunday as scorching heatwaves rocked the NSW capital.

A short video posted to X (formerly Twitter) captured huge queues outside the public toilets.

Despite concerns about rising heat and smoke haze, the weather remained mostly clear and did not affect athletes, event organizers said.

Morocco’s Othmane El Goumri emerged victorious in the men’s race, finishing in a time of 2:08:20.

The long-distance runner defeated Kenyan Laban Korir and Ethiopian Getaneh Molla Tamire, who finished second and third respectively.

Canberra-born runner Brett Robinson finished in ninth place, with a net time of 2:23:04.

Former Kenyan and now American runner Betsy Saina, who plans to compete in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, took the win for the women’s race with a time of 2:26:47.

Ms Saina came in just milliseconds ahead of Ethiopia’s Rahma Chota and Kenya’s Gladys Kiptegai, who came third with a time of 2:28:41.

Australian Sinead Diver, who was reportedly struggling with injuries, finished eighth with a time of 2:31:27.

The marathon went ahead despite high temperatures being forecast in Sydney amid an upcoming heatwave.

Hazard mitigation burns were suspended to ease the smoky haze in the capital days before the big event.

Marathon Race Director Wayne Larden said organizers have installed an additional ‘hydration station’ and three ice stations in the middle of the course to help struggling athletes cope with the rising heat.

“The safety and well-being of our participants is our highest priority,” he said in a statement.

‘We are working closely with key stakeholders including the Rural Fire Service (RFS) and the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) to ensure the highest safety standards are implemented.’

NSW Health Executive Director of Health Protection Dr Jeremy McAnulty urged people to take precautions given the recent spike in asthma attacks.

‘Simple precautions can reduce the risk of heat-related illness. It’s important not to get too hot or dehydrated by minimizing outdoor physical activity during the day and staying well hydrated by drinking water. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty before drinking water,” Dr. McAnulty said.

‘It is best to try to avoid the heat of the day by staying indoors and closing curtains and blinds early. If you don’t have air conditioning, you can use a fan and wet your skin with a sponge, spray, or water-soaked towel to keep you cool.