Sydney Marathon 2026: Elite Athlete Performances, New Records, and Results

Addisu Gobena won the men’s TCS Sydney Marathon earlier today, crossing the finish line in 2:04:42 to break the previous course record by over a minute. The 21-year-old Ethiopian edged compatriot Chimdessa Debele Gudeta by just four seconds in a blistering elite race where the top three finishers all dipped under the 2:05 mark on the Australian course.

From Javelin Thrower to Marathon Record-Holder

Up until 2023, the young Ethiopian competed as a javelin thrower before transitioning to long-distance running. That pivot paid dividends on the streets of Sydney, where Gobena returned with unfinished business after finishing as the runner-up last year behind Hailemaryam Kiros.

This time, Gobena secured the title by slicing more than a minute off the previous course record of 2:06:06.

The men’s podium proved fiercely competitive. Chimdessa Debele Gudeta pushed Gobena to the absolute limit, claiming second place with a time of 2:04:46.

Jepchirchir Dominates the Women’s Elite Division

In the women’s elite race, Peres Jepchirchir added another major marathon victory to her résumé. The Kenyan long-distance legend claimed victory with a commanding time of 2:18:31, asserting total control over the international field.

Jepchirchir finished 3:40 ahead of her compatriot Irene Cheptai, who secured second place in 2:22:11. Ethiopia’s Shure Demise Ware completed the podium by taking third in 2:22:33, rounding out a fiercely contested morning of racing.

Manuela Schär Enters Marathon Majors History

Beyond the footraces, wheelchair racing witnessed a monumental milestone. Switzerland’s Manuela Schär captured the women’s wheelchair division title in 1:42:04, cementing her legacy as the first athlete to win all eight Abbott World Marathon Majors.

Schär had already conquered the traditional six majors—Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City—before adding the inaugural Cape Town Marathon earlier this year. Sydney served as the final piece of an unprecedented global puzzle. She crossed the line 5:13 ahead of Great Britain’s Eden Rainbow-Cooper, while American veteran Tatyana McFadden finished third in 1:51:08.

In the men’s wheelchair division, America’s Daniel Romanchuk dominated the course to win in 1:26:50. Romanchuk finished more than four minutes ahead of British racing icon David Weir, who took second in 1:31:33, with China’s Luo Xingchuan securing third in 1:31:35.

A Snapshot of the 2026 Sydney Marathon Podium

Photo: newsbreak.com

Division	Winner (Country)	Time	Runner-Up (Country)	Time
Men’s Elite	Addisu Gobena (ETH)	2:04:42	Chimdessa Debele Gudeta (ETH)	2:04:46
Women’s Elite	Peres Jepchirchir (KEN)	2:18:31	Irene Cheptai (KEN)	2:22:11
Men’s Wheelchair	Daniel Romanchuk (USA)	1:26:50	David Weir (GBR)	1:31:33
Women’s Wheelchair	Manuela Schär (SUI)	1:42:04	Eden Rainbow-Cooper (GBR)	1:47:17

Global Implications for Elite Racing Calendars