WCH Tokyo 25 facts and figures: men's marathon

Last three sets of World Athletics Championships medallists

2023: 1 Victor Kiplangat (UGA) – 2:08:53, 2 Maru Teferi (ISR) – 2:09:12, 3 Leul Gebresilase (ETH) – 2:09:19
2022: 1 Tamirat Tola (ETH) – 2:05:36, 2 Mosinet Geremew (ETH) – 2:06:44, 3 Bashir Abdi (BEL) – 2:06:48
2019: 1 Lelisa Desisa (ETH) – 2:10:40, 2 Mosinet Geremew (ETH) – 2:10:44, 3 Amos Kipruto (KEN) – 2:10:51

Last two sets of Olympic medallists

Fastest winning times in World Athletics Championships history

Tamirat Tola (ETH) – 2:05:36 (2022)
Abel (KEN) – 2:06:54 (2009)
Abel Kirui (KEN) – 2:07:38 (2011)

Slowest winning time in World Athletics Championships history

Luke Kibet (KEN) – 2:15:59 (2007)

Best marks on Japanese soil

​​2:02:16 1 Benson Kipruto (KEN) – Tokyo 03.03.2024
2:02:40 1 Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) – Tokyo 06.03.2022
2:02:55 2 Timothy Kiplagat (KEN) – Tokyo 03.03.2024

Best marks on Asian soil

​​2:02:16 1 Benson Kipruto (KEN) – Tokyo 03.03.2024
2:02:40 1 Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) – Tokyo 06.03.2022
2:02:55 2 Timothy Kiplagat (KEN) – Tokyo 03.03.2024

Biggest winning margins

2:28 – 2011: Abel Kirui (KEN) – 2:07:38, Vincent Kipruto (KEN) – 2:10:06
1:22 – 2017: Geoffrey Kirui (KEN) – 2:08:27, Tamirat Tola (ETH) – 2:09:49
1:19 – 2007: Luke Kibet (KEN) – 2:15:59, Mubarak Hassan Shami (QAT) – 2:17:18

​​Smallest winning margins

0:01s – 2001: Gezahegn Abera (ETH) – 2:12:42, Simon Biwott (KEN) – 2:12:43
0:04s – 2019: Lelisa Desisa (ETH) – 2:10:40, Mosinet Geremew (ETH) – 2:10:44
0:05s – 1997: Abel Anton (ESP) – 2:13:16, Martin Fiz (ESP) – 2:13:21

Multiple winners

1997/99 - Abel Anton (ESP)
2003/05 - Jaouad Gharib (MAR)
2009/11 - Abel Kirui (KEN)

Winners by country

5 - Kenya
3 - Ethiopia
3 - Spain
2 - Uganda
2 - Morocco
1 - Australia
1 - Japan
1 - United States
1 - Eritrea

Five historic facts

• The first sub-2:10 winning time came in Paris in 2003 when Jaouad Gharib (MAR) won gold in 2:08:31.
• The two slowest winning times were both set when Japan previously hosted the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in 1991 and Osaka in 2007 respectively: 2:14:57 Hiromi Taniguchi (JPN) in 1991 and 2:15:59 Luke Kibet (KEN) in 2007
• Taniguchi and Abel Anton (ESP) both have the distinction of winning the world marathon title on home soil in Tokyo in 1991 and Seville in 1999 respectively. Taniguchi became Japan's first ever world champion in any event in 1991
• Ghirmay Ghebreslassie (ERI) became the event’s youngest winner and medallist when he won gold in Beijing 2015 at 19y/281d
• No nation has ever achieved a clean sweep in the men's marathon at the World Championships although Kenya did achieve a 1-2-3 in the women's marathon in Daegu in 2011

Potential storylines

• Can Victor Kiplangat (UGA) become the first athlete to win back-to-back world titles in the men’s marathon since Abel Kirui (KEN) in 2011?
• Tadese Takele (ETH) will make his major championships marathon debut for Ethiopia in Tokyo although he did represent Ethiopia at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 in the 3000m steeplechase
• Can Japan win their first medal in the men’s marathon at the World Championships since Helsinki in 2005?
• Can Emile Cairess (GBR) become the first Brit to win a medal in the men’s marathon at the World Championships? He is the highest returning finisher from the Paris 2024 Olympics where he finished fourth, one of five fourth-place finishes for Brits in the men's marathon in major championships since 2000
• Can the United States (USA) win their first medal in the marathon since Marc Plaatjes won gold in Stuttgart in 1993
• Ser-od Bat-Ochir (MGL) will be competing in his 12th successive World Championships marathon. He has never missed a major championships marathon (world or Olympic) since making his debut at the 2003 World Championships in Paris!
• However, the oldest participant is Paulo Roberto Paula (BRA) at 46y/69d