London Marathon 2025 LIVE: More than 56,000 look to cross the line as Sawe and Assefa surge in elite races – latest
THE London Marathon is back for another year, as over 56,000 people run the 26.2-mile circuit.
In the early race, Marcel Hug surged to victory for his seventh title in London in the elite wheelchair race as fellow Swiss Catherine Debrunner displayed equal dominance in the women's race - replicating last year's result.
Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa lunged away from the chasing pack to break the women's-only world record, as Brit Paula Radcliffe's women's course record, achieved with male pacemakers, will remain for least another year.
Sabastian Sawe was able to outlast a STACKED field, including four-time champion Eliud Kipchoge and two-time Olympic gold medalist Alex Yee, to win the elite men's race and make good on the promise hailed on him.
The mass participation race has over 56,000 racing the London streets, with the race setting history as the most entered marathon in history.
Former Chelsea captain John Terry is running in the London Marathon in 2025, with other ex-footballers Jack Wilshere and Leonardo Bonucci also running.
- TV channel: BBC One
BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS
Follow our live blog below...
Thanks for following us
This blog is now closing. If you’re feeling inspired by this year’s runners is now open for next year.
It will stay open until May 2.
It doesn’t cost anything to enter the ballot, but if you are successful you will need to pay the entry fee of £79.99.
If you choose to donate your fee to the London Marathon Foundation at the point of entry, it’s £49.99.
Same time, same place next year? In pictures – London Marathon 2025 (the aftermath)
Here are some of the best pics of runners relaxing yesterday after they took part in the event.
Protests at marathon
There were several protests along the route of the event yesterday.
Two protestors from Youth Demand stormed Tower Bridge, throwing pink powder over the runners in the men's elite race.
At Downing Street, Just Stop Oil unfurled banners.
Protestors assembled outside Downing Street 
Youth Demand protestors interrupted the race at Tower Bridge
How many km is the London Marathon?
The London Marathon is 42km but it hasn’t always been this long.
The marathon has its roots in the ancient world, specifically Greece.
The race dates back to 776 B.C. when a messenger ran from the city of Marathon to Athens to deliver news of a Greek military victory.
The distance was 40km (24.8miles) and since then, runners have challenged themselves to match the feat.
However, the distance was extended in the 1908 Olympic Games in London to 26.2miles.
Great cause
This year’s official race charity is Pancreatic Cancer UK.
Of the common cancers, it’s the biggest killer – almost 800 people die a month, mainly because it’s caught too late.
The idea is to fund what the charity is calling “the ultimate test”.
You can donate .
'The crowds were amazing'
Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, who came in third in the women's elite race, paid tribute to the crowds in her post on X.
She wrote: "What a day! It means a lot to be on the podium again. The crowds were amazing, thanks so much for all the support along the way!"
The last 10 London Marathon men’s winners
The last 10 years have seen some of the greatest male runners of all time claim top spot at the London Marathon:
- 2015 – Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) – 2:04.42
- 2016 – Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) – 2:03.05
- 2017 – Daniel Wanjiru (Kenya) – 2:05.48
- 2018 – Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) – 2:04.17
- 2019 – Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) – 2:02.38
- 2020 – Shura Kitata (Ethiopia) – 2:05.41
- 2021 – Sisay Lemma (Ethiopia) – 2:04.01
- 2022 – Amos Kipruto (Kenya) – 2:04:39
- 2023 – Kelvin Kiptum (Kenya) – 2:01.15 (Course record)
- 2024 – Alexander Mutiso Munyao (Kenya) – 2hrs 4mins 1sec
Final results
Here is the full list of the results from the men's and women's races today.
Supershoe wars are go...
Tigst Assefa broke the world record for a women’s only marathon race in London this morning, with Eilish McColgan also eclipsing her mum Liz’s Scottish record to finish eighth on her 26.2-mile journey.
Tigst's win is also a victory that will reignite the supershoe wars.
On her feet were the new Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1s, which Adidas claims are “enhanced with unique technology that challenges the boundaries of racing”.
The shoes are on sale for – wait for it – £400 ...
Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia holds out a trainer marked with her world record time after finishing first in the elite women's race of the London Marathon today
Dads finish marathon in memory of their girls
Here is to the fundraising page set up by David Stancombe and Sergio Aguiar who ran today’s race in memory of their daughters.
Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice Aguiar died in the Southport attack.
House about that ...
Runners have been crossing Tower Bridge in fancy dress all afternoon.
Here is a selection of some of the best costumes.
Record breaker
The London Marathon's director has just confirmed this year's race had a record number of starters of any marathon anywhere in the world.
We now wait to see if it also had a record number of finishers.
Earlier today, organisers said they hoped more than 50,000 people would finish the race.
DJ Adele Roberts sets new world record
Adele has set a new world record as the first and fastest runner to complete the six marathon majors with a stoma.
She has completed the set within eight months.
Speaking after she finished the London Marathon today, she said: "I did three marathons last year and three this year, but six over eight months.
"I hope it can show people that you can get your life back on track post-cancer and with a stoma. Running has been my medicine mentally."
Adele Roberts running the Tokyo Marathon 'My legs have never been this sore'
Here's some more comments from Alex Yee following his debut marathon.
"My legs have never been this sore," he said. "Physically [the marathon and triathlon] are quite similar but my legs have never felt like this in my whole life. It’s a new experience definitely."
On whether today's marathon means less triathlon going forward, Yee gave an emphatic "no".
"Definitely not. I am still hoping for LA Olympics. This is just an experiment really to help me improve my run. I’ve worked hard over the years to improve my bike and swim to get to that level so it’s nice to be able to work on this now."
Alex Yee of Team Great Britain breaks down in tears after crossing the finish line Great cause
This year's official race charity is Pancreatic Cancer UK.
Of the common cancers, it’s the biggest killer – almost 800 people die a month, mainly because it’s caught too late.
The idea is to fund what the charity is calling “the ultimate test”.
You can donate .
'One of the best experiences of my life' – Alex Yee
British triathlon Olympic champion Alex Yee said today was "probably one of the best experiences of my life".
Speaking to BBC Sport's Gabby Logan after finishing 14th on his marathon debut, he heaped praise on the crowd who he said "were on another level".
He added: "I am so proud to have completed the marathon.
"An amazing experience but it was hard at the end. I am just proud to have done it. Emotions about time will come afterwards, but the main thing for me today was to enjoy it, do something unknown and embrace it. I did that to my best of my ability. I feel like I gave 100%.
"This is bigger than running. It’s an amazing day and I wanted to be a part of it. This was the perfect opportunity."
Alex Yee, Mahamed Mahamed and Weynay Ghebresilasie on the podium after the men's elite race 'Very happy' – Tigst's smile says it all
Through an interpreter, Tigst Assefa says that after coming second last year, to win here is very special and she’s very happy – the smile plastered across her face gives that one away.
Last year, she had problems with the cold – her hamstrings tightened towards the end – but this year, the warm weather made it better for her.
Finally, Sawe says he hopes the marathon will be an important moment for him.
Tigst set a new women's only world record time at the event Men's wheelchair final results
Women's wheelchair final results
Football legend lends support
England hero John Barnes provides encouragement to runners with Lucozade during the marathon.
How are the celebrities doing?
Here is a list of some of the famous marathoners, how far they have run and their projected finishes, according to the London Marathon's app tracker.
- Harry Judd, 21.75 miles covered, 3hr 14min 37sec estimated finish time
- John Terry, 15.53mi, 4hr 3min 33sec
- Joe Wicks, 6.21mi, 5hr 14min 02sec
- Alexandra Burke, 6.21mi, 5hr 19min 44sec
- Romesh Ranganathan, 9.32mi, 5hr 20min 49sec
- Kelly Brook, 9.32mi, 6hr 11min 36sec
Harry Judd has covered more than 21 miles so far in today's London Marathon 
Kelly Brook has run more than 9 miles
Southport attack fundraiser
Here is to the fundraising page set up by David Stancombe and Sergio Aguiar who are running today's race in memory of their daughters.
David and Sergio said their daughters, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Aguiar, pictured below, would be with them in spirit as they run the 26-mile course on Sunday.
Elsie, Alice and six-year-old Bebe King were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class last July.
The killer, Axel Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time and injured 10 other people, was convicted of murder and is serving a minimum of 52 years in prison.
Credit: PA 
Credit: PA London Marathon – in pictures
Here is a selection of some of the best images from today's marathon.
Tigst Assefa of Team Ethiopia celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the women's race 
Sabastian Sawe of Team Kenya celebrates after he crosses the finish line to win the men's race 
Alex Yee of Team Great Britain 
Bret Crossley of Team Great Britain nurses an injury during the men's wheelchair race 
Britain's Mahamed Mahamed was the first Brit to finish the race â in ninth place with a time of 2.08.52 
Switzerland's Marcel Hug finishes first in the men's wheelchair race 
Catherine Debrunner of Team Switzerland reacts after winning the women's wheelchair race And now for the main event ...
With the elite races now complete, we turn our attention to the 50,000+ other runners taking on the London Marathon today.
Some are running for fast times, others are running for their own special and emotional reasons, such as Lucy Jones from Hull who is celebrating her 18th by running as the race’s youngest competitor in memory of her mum who died when she was nine.
One man is running with a fridge on his back, raising money for the Armed Forces, emblazoned with a London Underground logo that says London Fridge, as he crosses that bridge. Another man has run from Macclesfield, starting on Monday, a marathon every day, basically while pushing a buggy.
We'll bring you as many images and reports as we can over the next few hours and share the best of the action from the capital.
Fowl play ... a runner in fancy dress during the London Marathon 2025 Waiting for the interviews ...
Hopefully we'll have some interviews coming in soon from the winners. When they're in, we'll post them here.