World Athletics revealed on Tuesday that it has created a separate marathon championship that will debut in 2030 and exist outside of its track and field world championships.
The new series is called the World Marathon Championships with Athens, Greece as a preferred host site and will be an annual event, with with men and women competing in alternate years like the current system within the track and field championships.
“We are delighted to be exploring the possibility of a standalone World Marathon Championships with Athens – the place where this iconic discipline was born,” World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said. “Few events in sport carry the weight and resonance of the marathon; it is both a test of the very highest performance and a celebration of mass participation. This is an opportunity to create a dedicated global celebration of marathon running, held in a setting that honors its heritage while shaping a modern championship that reflects the scale and spirit of the global running community.”
The marathon will still be part of the 2027 and 2029 track and field world championships before splitting into its own event, while the World Athletics Road Running Championships will continue to take place as a separate annual event.
At last year’s world championships in Tokyo, the marathon delivered of the most thrilling finishes as Alphonce Simbu pulled off a stunning win as he edged past Amanal Petros at the line after both sprinted inside Japan National Stadium. Petros dived to the finish while Simbu leaned in and grabbed the title in 2:09:48. Petros crossed at the same time but was just 0.03s short of the victory.
The women’s event also delivered its own batch of drama as Peres Jepchirchir won a narrow race by 2:24:43 over Tigst Assefa, who was closing in quickly but finished second in 2:24:45.
“The marathon is one of the most universal events in sport, and Athens is its spiritual home,” World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon sat at a press conference in Athens announcing the new event. “Exploring the possibility of a future standalone World Marathon Championships here reflects our ambition to bring the sport’s greatest global showcase back to where it all began. This roadmap ensures the event meets the rigorous technical and operational standards required for the world’s most prestigious stage.”
Meanwhile, as part of a push to land Athens as the host of the inaugural World Marathon Championships, the Athens Marathon The Authentic has been upgraded as an Elite Label race.
The race has been staged since 1972 and is inspired by the Ancient Athenian army run from Marathon to Athens after the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC during the first Persian invasion of Greece.
“We are investing in the future of every runner who steps on to the road from Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium, ensuring they receive a world-class experience that honors the legend of this course,” Sofia Sakorafa, president of the Hellenic Athletics Federation said. “Our 2026 edition serves as the first milestone in this transformation.”
As part of the partnership, World Athletics will also invest in in the region in a plan to modernize the original Olympic course from 1896.
