The 2025 London Marathon is shaping up to be a thrilling contest, with world-class athletes like Peres Jepchirchir, Ruth Chepng’etich, and Sifan Hassan all set to battle for the coveted title. Scheduled for Sunday, April 27, the event is one of the most prestigious and lucrative in the marathon calendar, attracting top-tier competitors eager to claim victory and a share of the substantial prize money.
Peres Jepchirchir, the reigning champion, will return to London with the memory of her sensational victory in 2024. Last year, she set a women-only world record, clocking an impressive 2:16:16, and will be looking to defend her title in the streets of London. Jepchirchir has not competed since the Paris Olympics, where she finished 15th in her attempt to defend her Olympic title. Injuries have slowed her down, but she is now back in peak form and ready for the challenge. Her previous experience on the London course, having finished third in 2023, will undoubtedly give her an advantage as she aims to secure another win.
Ruth Chepng’etich, the world record holder, will also be a formidable contender in this year’s race. She shattered the marathon world record at the Chicago Marathon in late 2024 and is now focused on taking the London Marathon crown. Chepng’etich competed in the London Marathon once before, in 2020, when she made it to the podium. However, this time, she is aiming for the top spot. With her recent world record performance, Chepng’etich is in exceptional form and has set her sights on breaking Jepchirchir’s record. She expressed confidence in the strength of the competition and the potential for a world record to fall, noting that the presence of such a talented field could create an environment where the pace is fast enough to challenge the existing records.
Sifan Hassan, the Dutch middle- and long-distance star, will also be a major threat in the race. Known for her incredible versatility and ability to excel across various distances, Hassan will be looking to add a marathon title to her already impressive list of achievements. Though she has yet to compete in the London Marathon, Hassan’s experience on the global stage, including her Olympic and World Championship victories, makes her a strong contender. She has proven time and again that she can rise to the occasion in high-pressure situations, and the 2025 London Marathon will be no different.
The competition in the women’s race will be fierce, with Jepchirchir, Chepng’etich, and Hassan all vying for supremacy. Each athlete brings her own strengths to the table, and the race promises to be a tactical battle, with the outcome likely to be decided by who can manage the pace and weather the grueling 26.2-mile course. Chepng’etich has already expressed her desire to work together with the other top women to push the pace and potentially break the world record, which could set the stage for an exhilarating showdown.
In the men’s race, the defending champion, Alexander Mutiso, will be looking to hold off the challenge from Olympic champion Tamirat Tola. Tola, who has faced setbacks in his previous London Marathon attempts, will be hoping that 2025 will be his year to claim victory. Mutiso, however, will be determined to defend his title and prove that he is the man to beat in London.
With such a strong field of elite athletes, the 2025 London Marathon is shaping up to be one of the most exciting editions in recent memory. Fans of distance running can expect a thrilling race, with the potential for world records to be broken and new champions to be crowned.
