30 Aug 2026

RECORD CROWDS PUT SYDNEY IN MARATHON MODE

A record crowd of 400,000 spectators lined the streets of Sydney today as 36,296 participants from more than 140 countries crossed the finish line at the Sydney Opera House, the largest crowd in the history of the TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS.

“What you saw today was a city that has fallen in love with this event," said Wayne Larden, Race Director, TCS Sydney Marathon. "Four hundred thousand people on the streets, Guinness World Records and personal bests being set on the same course, an Olympic swimmer and a Wimbledon champion finding out what 42 kilometres feels like. That is what a marathon does. It puts everybody on the same road." 

Former world number one tennis player Ash Barty ran her first marathon and crossed the line in 04:16:40 alongside her sister, the pair finishing hand in hand in front of the Sydney Opera House to one of the loudest receptions of the day. 

She was not the only Australian sporting great taking on a first. Australia’s most decorated Olympian Emma McKeon completed 04:41:30 in what was not just her first marathon but the first running event of her life, swapping the pool for the pavement in front of a home crowd.

Nedd Brockmann produced his greatest ever marathon performance, stopping the clock at 02:21:48 and taking 8 minutes and 18 seconds off his previous best of 02:30:06. He was followed by Olympian boxer Harry Garside who also banked a personal best, running 02:36:36 to the delight of spectators lining the course. 

Bondi's lifeguards swapped the sand for the streets and posted times most weekend runners would happily claim. Jackson Doolan led the tower home in 03:28:39, quick enough to have finished inside the top fifteen per cent of the field. Trent Maxwell followed in 03:47:00 and Luke Faddy completed the trio in 04:29:19, all three covering rather more ground than a standard shift on North Bondi. Bragging rights at the tower belong to Doolan until at least next August.

Two of rugby league's toughest competitors went head-to-head on the streets of Sydney, a decade after helping deliver Cronulla’s historic 2016 premiership. Former Cronulla Sharks Hooker Michael Ennis claimed bragging rights in the friendly battle as the quicker of the pair in 03:33:53. His captain, Paul Gallen, crossed in 05:00:26, adding 42.195 kilometres to a post-football career otherwise spent in the boxing ring. 

No group embodies the event's history like the Blue Line Legends. The six runners have completed every TCS Sydney Marathon since the inaugural race in 2001, and they take their name from the blue line painted on the road to guide the marathon field at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Twenty six editions later, all six crossed the finish line once again.

Six Guinness World Records were set on the Sydney course. The fastest of them belonged to Toby Fuller, who ran 03:18:01 to claim the fastest marathon by a man with multiple myeloma, while Chris Fyvie set the record for the fastest marathon by a man with a subcutaneous defibrillator in 03:36:27.

The remaining four were claimed in costume, and none of them slowly. Kent Ohori ran 03:28:27 dressed as a can, Phil Brent went 03:45:52 as a reptile and Rebecca Joyner took the women's record for the fastest marathon dressed as a scout in 03:55:37. Nilhari Bhandari completed the set in 04:07:06, running the distance in traditional Bhutanese dress.

The TCS Sydney Marathon is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The event is owned by Australian Athletics and managed by Pont3. 

For more information please visit: www.tcssydneymarathon.com 

-ENDS- 

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ABOUT TCS SYDNEY MARATHON PRESENTED BY ASICS

The TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS is Australia’s largest marathon and is the sole remaining participant legacy of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The TCS Sydney Marathon is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The event is owned by Australian Athletics and managed by Pont3. The only mass participation running event in Australia to have a four hour live broadcast each year, the TCS Sydney Marathon boasts participation from over 140 countries and has raised over $36 million for charitable organisations since its inception.

ABOUT TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES (TCS)

Tata Consultancy Services is the technology partner of choice for industry-leading organisations worldwide. Since its inception in 1968, TCS has upheld the highest standards of innovation, engineering excellence, and customer service.

It has set an aspiration to become the world's largest AI-led technology services company and is enabling its clients to transform themselves across the full AI stack, from infrastructure to intelligence.

Rooted in the heritage of the Tata Group, TCS is focused on creating long term value for its clients, its investors, its employees, and the community at large. With a highly skilled workforce spread across 55 countries and 202 service delivery centres across the world, the company has been recognised as a top employer in six continents. With the ability to rapidly apply and scale new technologies, the company has built long term partnerships with its clients - helping them emerge as perpetually adaptive enterprises. Many of these relationships have endured into decades and navigated every technology cycle, from mainframes in the 1970s to artificial intelligence today.

TCS sponsors 14 of the world’s most prestigious marathons and endurance events, including the TCS New York City Marathon, TCS London Marathon and TCS Sydney Marathon with a focus on promoting health, sustainability, and community empowerment.

TCS generated consolidated revenues of over US $30 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. For more information, visit www.tcs.com

ABOUT ABBOTT WORLD MARATHON MAJORS

The Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) is a series of eight of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world - Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America, TCS London Marathon, BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, TCS New York City Marathon, the TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS and now the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. 

Encompassing an annual series for elite runners and elite wheelchair athletes, AbbottWMM also applauds the achievements and passion of everyday champions from around the world.  

AbbottWMM also operates the Abbott World Marathon Majors Marathon Tours & Travel Age Group World Rankings, offering athletes aged 40 and over the chance to compete against their peers for a place in the Abbott World Marathon Majors Marathon Tours & Travel Age Group World Championships. The 2024 Championship was held within the 2024 TCS Sydney Marathon. For more information, visit www.worldmarathonmajors.com

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Sophie Walton | sophie@sydneymarathon.com | +61 404 507 975

Hollie Hodges | hollie@sydneymarathon.com | +61 402 696 775