The first Sydney Marathon was held on April 30, 2000, as a test event for the 2000 Summer Olympics, allowing organizers to try out the route before the Games. After the Olympics, organizers decided to hold the Sydney Marathon every year as a legacy event.
World Athletics classifies the Sydney Marathon as a Platinum Label Road Race, meaning it meets strict criteria in the following areas:
- Elite competition: participation of a strong international field of top-ranked professional athletes.
- Organization: high standards in race management, safety, and timing accuracy.
- Anti-doping compliance: adherence to World Athletics’ out-of-competition and in-competition testing.
- Media and broadcast coverage: global or regional television coverage, live streaming, and results reporting.
- Course certification: accurate measurement and approval of the course by World Athletics.
The marathon course begins in North Sydney, crosses the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and concludes at the Sydney Opera House. Participants have the opportunity to see some of Sydney’s most iconic landmarks, including The Rocks, Circular Quay, and Centennial Park. The course is not the same that was used in the Olympics; it has been modified to eliminate uphill sections, making it more accessible and spectator-friendly, as well as allowing for faster running times.
In addition to the marathon itself, the Sydney Marathon includes a 10K run and a Mini Marathon, which is a 5K run perfect for first-time runners, families, and kids. The Mini Marathon shares the same finish line as the main marathon, enabling its participants to have a shared experience with marathon legends. All courses are accessible for participants with mobility aids, including racing chairs for authorized elite athletes.
In 2025, the Sydney Marathon became part of the World Marathon Majors (WMM), joining annual marathon races in Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, New York, and Tokyo. Athletes competing in these marathons receive points for finishing in the top five places. At the end of the series cycle (usually spanning two calendar years), the male and female athletes with the most points from their top two finishes are named champions and receive prize money.
In its first year as a WMM event, the Sydney Marathon welcomed a record-breaking 35,000 participants from nearly 120 countries. The marathon attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators every year and is the only running event in Australia to be broadcast live.
Photo: tcssydneymarathon.com
