Home / Sports / Paper, scissors, stone decides London Marathon elite races
Paper, scissors, stone decides London Marathon elite races
30 Sep
Summary
- Elite races divided by sex across weekend: men Saturday, women Sunday.
- Decision made via game of 'paper, scissors, stone' between athletes.
- Expanded event will allow over 100,000 participants, raising £150m for charity.
Next April, the London Marathon will host a two-day event, with elite races divided by sex across the weekend. Men will compete on Saturday, April 24, and women on Sunday, April 25. This significant decision was made through a game of 'paper, scissors, stone' between wheelchair athlete Catherine Debrunner and runner Sabastian Sawe.
This new format is designed to manage the running boom and the high demand for participation. The event will now accommodate over 100,000 runners across the weekend, significantly more than previous years. Organizers anticipate that this expanded marathon will generate over £150 million for charities, potentially becoming the largest fundraising event in UK sporting history.
Organizers highlighted that separating the elite races will provide a greater spotlight on the athletes. The elite women, in particular, will now have their own dedicated day of racing, which is expected to enhance their visibility and allow for a true celebration of women's marathon running. This change aims to build on the success of women-only world records previously set in London.
