World Athletics’ decision to spin the marathon into a standalone World Championships from 2030, could be significantly reshape Kenya’s medal ambitions on the global stage.
Since the launch of the World Championships in 1983, Kenya has been forced to reckon with the marathon scene, dominating both men’s and women’s events.
Kenya being on the frontline in both men and women marathon, men’s marathon securing 9 medals (5 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze), while women’s marathon stand with 22 medals (16 gold, 5 silver and 1 bronze) followed by Ethiopia 13 medals and Spain 5 medals.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe hailed the move as a defining moment for the sport. “This is an opportunity to create a dedicated global celebration of marathon running, staged in a setting that honors its heritage while embracing the scale and spirit of the modern running community,” he said.
The World Athletics has opened formal discussions with Athens to host the inaugural edition 2030, as it’s part of the ambitious blueprint. While the World Athletics Road Running Championship will continue as a separate annual competition.
The newly proposed World Marathon Championships will be staged annually, while reflecting the current championship cycle.
Chief Executive Jon Ridgeon echoed those sentiments, describing Athens as the natural home for the event. “Exploring a standalone World Marathon Championships here reflects our ambition to return the sport’s greatest showcase to where it all began, while ensuring it meets the highest technical and operational standards,” Ridgeon noted.
