Guinness World Records has confirmed the figure as the highest number of finishers ever recorded in a marathon. It surpasses the previous benchmark set by the TCS New York City Marathon.
The achievement cements London’s position as one of the most significant races on the global sporting calendar.
The race also delivered standout performances at elite level.
Kenyan athlete Sebastian Sawe became the first man to run a sub-two-hour marathon in an official competitive race. In the women’s event, Tigst Assefa defended her title and broke her own women-only world record with a time of 2:15:41.
Three women finished under two hours and 16 minutes in the same race for the first time in marathon history.
Away from the elite field, 38 individual titles were also broken under the banner of Guinness World Records. They ranged from athletic accomplishments to personal challenges, including runners overcoming serious health conditions and others completing the course in elaborate costumes.
There was also a strong local presence from Swindon and across Wiltshire.
Dozens of runners from the area travelled to the capital to take part in the 26.2-mile event. They were among the thousands contributing to the record-breaking total, with many raising money for charities supporting causes in the town and county.
Mark McKinley of Guinness World Records praised the scale of the achievement.
“It’s amazing to see the growth of the London Marathon… Congratulations to all the runners that took part — you are officially amazing.”
Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events, said the combination of record-breaking elite performances and huge public participation underlined the race’s unique appeal.
The London Marathon has now spent nearly two decades working in partnership with Guinness World Records, continuing to expand both participation and accessibility.
For runners from Swindon and Wiltshire, the new record is more than just a statistic. It is a milestone they helped to achieve.
As attention turns to next year’s race, many in the local running community will already be setting their sights on another opportunity to be part of history.
