London Marathon LIVE: Latest updates from 26-mile race after Amos Kipruto wins men’s event
40,000 people are set to compete in the long-distance race
The London marathon takes place today with athletes and members of the public prepared to tackle the 26-mile route around the British capital. The start is near Blackheath in Greenwich, with the route taking in landmarks such as the Cutty Sark, the Shard, the London Eye and Parliament before reaching the finish line at the Mall by Buckingham Palace.
28-year-old Kenyan, Brigid Kosgei, who won the London Marathon in 2019 and 2020 has withdrawn through injury but the women’s field still features Kosgei’s compatriot and last year’s winner Joyciline Jepkosgei (29) and Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw (23) who set the fastest debut time for a marathon and holds the world record in the 10km road race.
The men’s race looks set to be a tight affair with Kenya’s Titus Ekiru well-backed after victories in the 2021 Milan and Abu Dhabi marathons whilst Ethiopia’s Birhanu Legese will be amongst his closest contenders alongside 2021 London marathon winner and compatriot Sisay Lemma. Four-time London marathon winner Eliud Kipchoge will not compete, and neither will Great Britain’s Sir Mo Farah who has withdrawn due to a hip injury.
Follow all the action from the 2022 London marathon:
London marathon 2022
Britain’s Eden Rainbow-Cooper and David Weir celebrate their third place finishes in the women’s and men’s wheelchair races at the 2022 London Marathon.
‘It’s been a crazy year for me’ says Debrunner
"It’s been a crazy year for me, I did Berlin for the first time it was such a great adventure and experience. I knew London would be different route, a difficult one with lots of turns.” said Women’s wheelchair marathon winner Catherine Debrunner on BBC One.
"It was very special - just before the start two of the best marathon racers couldn’t start, I spoke with Susannah Scaroni before and we planned to work together. Near the beginning going downhill I saw that she was far behind so I thought I’m going to have to do it myself!
“It was the toughest race I’ve ever done. I worked really hard in the summer and saw a big progression but I never expected to win the marathons. It’s quite cheeky but unbelievable."
Post-race reaction from men’s wheelchair champion
Men’s wheelchair marathon winner Marcel Hug spoke to BBC One following his victory and said: "To be honest it was tough, it was one of the toughest marathons for a long time.
"I tried everything to break away from Daniel Romanchuk but no chance, he was too strong. In the end I’m very happy that I could make the sprint finish first.
"I tried not to let him lead, tried to make him tired and keep up the pace.”
World record attempts being made
There are 28 official Guinness World Record attempts being made at the London marathon this year including:
Fastest marathon dressed as a bottle (male)
Fastest marathon dressed as a stationery item (female)
Fastest marathon dressed in pyjamas (male)
Fastest four-legged marathon (female)
Fastest marathon dressed as a mythical creature (male & female)
Fastest marathon dressed as a three-dimensional shoe (male)
Fastest marathon on crutches
Watch Amos Kipruto win the London marathon
Here’s Kenya’s Amos Kipruto winning the elite men’s race:
Over to the masses
The elite races are all done and dusted now it’s over to the members of the public who are running for various reasons and causes. Some to test themselves, others to collect funds for charities with more raising awareness of causes close to their hearts.
There are over 40,000 runners taking part with a further 10,000 joining virtually from around the world.
The 2022 London marathon champions
Men’s wheelchair race: Marcel Hug
Women’s wheelchair race: Catherine Debrunner
Women’s race: Yalemzerf Yehualaw
Men’s race: Amos Kipruto
Ghebresilasie is quickest Brit
Weynay Ghebresilasie is the first over the line for Britain in the men’s race and crosses the line in ninth place with a new personal best time of 2:11:57, followed closely by compatriot Philip Sesemann who was the quickest Brit last year.
The winning moment
Here’s Amos Kipruto crossing the line to win the men’s race at the London marathon.
Amos Kipruto wins the men’s race!
Amos Kipruto rounds the final bend and sprints up the Mall to the finish line with no-one else in sight. The Kenyan crosses the line with a very respectable time of 2:04:38.
He was the favourite to win the marathon before the race an he’s lived up to that billing.
Ethiopian Leul Gebresilase takes second place, followed by Bashir Abdi.
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