Elite men
The 2023 TCS London Marathon elite men's race
2023 elite men's field
- Born: 15 April 1993
Marathon best: 2:03:51, Valencia (2019)
London Marathon record: 2022 – 4th (2:05:27)
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Boston: 2022 – 10th (2:09:16)
Other major city marathons: Valencia: 2019 – 1st (2:03:51), 2020 – DNF, 2021 – 7th (2:05:54)
Marathons in major championships: N/A
Notes: Atanaw finished fourth on his London Marathon debut in 2022 in 2:05:27. It came 12 months after he was originally due to make his London debut in 2021 race, but as he tested positive for Covid-19 just days before the race he had to isolate in the elite athlete hotel instead. The Ethiopian returned to the Valencia Marathon instead, which he won in 2019, where he finished seventh in a time of 2:05:54. Hailing from Ethiopia's oldest city Mekele, Atanaw is one of the few marathoners from the Tigray region of Ethiopia, which is north of the capital city of Addis Ababa. - Born: 13 June 1982
Marathon best: 2:01:41, Berlin (2019)
London Marathon record: 2016 – 3rd (2:06:36), 2017 – 2nd (2:05:57), 2018 – 6th (2:08:53), 2022 – 5th (2:05:53)
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Berlin: 2016 – 1st (2:03:03), 2017 – DNF, 2019 – 1st (2:01:41), 2021 – 3rd (2:06:47); Chicago: 2014 – 4th (2:05:51); New York: 2021 – 6th (2:12:52)
Other major city marathons: Dubai: 2017 – DNF; Paris: 2014 – 1st (2:05:04)
Marathons in major championships: N/A
Notes: Kenenisa Bekele is one of the greatest endurance runners in history and the second fastest marathon runner of all time thanks to his time of 2:01:41, which he ran at the Berlin Marathon in 2019. Bekele placed third on his London debut in 2016 and was then runner-up in 2017. His time of 2:05:53 in London last year, which saw him finish fifth, was a world masters (over 40) record. Before moving up to the marathon, he had a glittering career on the track, having won three Olympic and five World Championship gold medals. He has also won an incredible 11 gold medals at World Cross-Country Championships and is a former 5000m and 10,000m world record holder. - Born: 6 December 1985
Marathon best: 2:17:35, London (2022)
London Marathon record: 2011 – mass start, 3,630th (3:27:48), 2014 – mass start, 1,183th (2:58:33), 2016 – mass start, 523th (2:43:49), 2017 – mass start, 511th (2:43:50), 2018 – mass start, 563th (2:40:27), 2019 – mass start, 449th (2:40:27), 2021 – mass start, 16th (2:20:25), 2022 – elite start, 15th (2:17:35)
Notes: Bowker (the 'Badger') has taken huge chunks off his marathon PB over the years. Last year marked the first time that he raced the London Marathon from the elite start. - Born: 17 June 1993
Marathon best: 2:14:32, London (2022)
London Marathon record: 2022 – 12th (2:14:32)
Notes: Braden also ran the Seville Marathon in February 2022 in a time of 2:16:50. - Born: 27 December 1997
Marathon best: N/A
London Marathon record: N/A
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: N/A
Marathons in major championships: N/A
Notes: Cairess steps up to the marathon distance full of confidence after setting a new European 10 mile record of 45:57 at a ‘Breaking 10’ event in Lancashire, UK. He won a silver medal at the 2022 European Cross-Country Championships in Turin and in January that year tied Sir Mo Farah’s British record for 10K when he ran 27:43 in Valencia. Cairess obviously has a liking for the Spanish city, as he returned last October to run 60:32 for the half marathon, making him the fastest Brit of 2022 and the fourth fastest of all time. - Born: 2 August 1991
Marathon best: 2:11:33, Houston (2022)
London Marathon record: N/A
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: N/A
Marathons in major championships: Europeans: 2022 – DNF
Notes: Caldwell is a Scottish international who competed in the 5000m and 10,000m at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Based in Boulder, Colorado, Caldwell made his marathon debut in Houston in 2022, which he completed in 2:11:33. This result secured him a place in Great Britain’s marathon team for the 2022 European Championships in Munich, where he failed to finish. - Born: 17 October 1992
Marathon best: 2:11:20, London (2020)
London Marathon record: 2020 – 15th (2:11:20)
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: N/A
Other major city marathons: N/A
Marathons in major championships: Olympic Games: 2020 (2021) – DNF
Notes: Connor made his marathon debut at the 2020 elite-only London Marathon, where he ran an Olympic qualifying time of 2:11:20 to finish 15th overall. The Derbyshire-based athlete backed that up by finishing second at the British Marathon trials for the Tokyo Olympics to secure his place on the team, but suffered in the heat of the Olympic marathon and did not finish. He made the step up to the marathon after strong performances on both the track and in cross country. He was the British 10,000m track champion in 2019 and ran the 5000m at the Doha 2019 World Championships. - Born: 28 September 1987
Marathon best: 2:18:40, Manchester (2022)
London Marathon record: 2018 – Championship start, 100th (2:37:33), 2019 – Championship start, 562nd (2:42:39), 2021 – Championship start, 2nd (2:19:23) - Born: 23 March 1983
Marathon best: 2:05:11, Chicago (2018)
London Marathon record: 2014 – 8th (2:08:21), 2018 – 3rd (2:06:21), 2019 – 5th (2:05:39)
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Chicago: 2018 – 1st (2:05:11), 2019 – 8th (2:09:58)
Other major city marathons: N/A
Marathons in major championships: N/A
Notes: The most successful track athlete in British history with a haul of four Olympic and six World Championship gold medals, Farah also has a strong affinity with the London Marathon. He ran the Mini London Marathon as a young athlete and has raced the famous event in full on three occasions, with his best finish coming in 2018 when he was third. Farah’s major marathon victory to date was his 2018 triumph in Chicago, where he also set a new British record of 2:05:11. - Born: 20 September 1992
Marathon best: 2:04:02, Dubai (2018)
London Marathon record: 2019 – 8th (2:07:15), 2022 – 2nd (2:05:12)
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Berlin: 2019 – DNF
Other major city marathons: Dubai: 2018 – 2nd (2:04:02); Valencia: 2018 – 1st (2:04:31), 2019 – 9th (2:07:19), 2020 – 9th (2:05: 29); Milan: 2021 – 5th (2:04:31); Amsterdam: 2021 – 3rd (2:04:12); Rotterdam: 2022 – 2nd (2:04:56)
Marathons in major championships: N/A
Notes: A surprise runner-up to some at last year’s TCS London Marathon, Gebreselassie has consistently placed highly in the world’s leading marathons. He won the Valencia Marathon in 2018, the same year he set his marathon PB of 2:04:02 in Dubai. - Born: 12 February 1992
Marathon best: 2:02:55, London (2019)
London Marathon record: 2019 – 2nd (2:02:55), 2020 – 4th (2:06:04), 2021 – 3rd (2:04:41)
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Berlin: 2017 – 3rd (2:06:12); Chicago: 2018 – 2nd (2:05:24); Tokyo: 2022 – DNF
Other major city marathons: Dubai: 2018 – 1st (2:04:00); Xiamen: 2017 – 2nd (2:10:20); Seoul: 2022 – 1st (2:04:43)
Marathons in major championships: Worlds: 2019 – 2nd (2:10:44), 2022 – 2nd (2:06:44)
Notes: Mosinet Geremew, who won a silver medal at this year’s World Championships marathon in Oregon, is one of the most consistent marathon runners in the world, having never dropped outside the top five positions in a major marathon he has finished. He has twice finished on the podium in London, finishing third in 2021 and second in 2019, where he ran his PB of 2:02:55 to finish second behind Eliud Kipchoge. Geremew’s second place in Oregon this year was his second World Championships silver medal after finishing runner-up in Doha in 2019, too. - Born: 24 March 1994
Marathon best: 2:11:57, London (2022)
London Marathon record: 2019 – 28th (2:17:26), 2021 – 12th (2:16:27), 2022 – 9th 2:11:57
Notes: Ghebresilasie was born in Eritrea and competed for the country of his birth at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Following the Games, he stayed in the UK and sought asylum and has been eligible to compete for Great Britain since 2021. He was the first British athlete home (and ninth overall) at the 2022 TCS London Marathon, where he ran a PB of 2:11:57. - Born: 9 August 1991
Marathon best: 2:09:49, Frankfurt (2017)
London Marathon record: 2019 – 16th (2:11:46)
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: N/A
Other major city marathons: Frankfurt: 2017 – 5th (2:09:49)
Marathons in major championships: Commonwealths: 2022 – 11th (2:17:58)
Notes: Welshman Griffiths broke 2:10 on his marathon debut in Frankfurt in 2017, but he has struggled with injuries ever since. The Swansea Harrier made his London Marathon debut in 2019, when he finished in 16th place, and is the second fastest Welshman in history (behind Steve Jones) over both the marathon and half marathon distances. He has represented Great Britain on the roads and in cross country and Wales at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. - Born: 25 August 1991
Marathon best: 2:11:03, Valencia (2021)
London Marathon record: N/A
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: New York: 2018 – 46th (2:28:54)
Marathons in major championships: Europeans: 2018 – 11th (2:15:48); Worlds: 2022 – 43rd (2:14:56)
Notes: Groschel was the German national marathon champion in 2018 and 2019. He is also a part-time police officer. - Born: 29 April 1989
Marathon best: 2:12:49, Frankfurt (2019)
London Marathon record: 2013 – 12th (2:16:50), 2016 – 14th (2:12:57)
Marathons in major championships: Olympics: 2016 – 113th (2:29:24); Commonwealths: 2014 – 9th (2:14:15)
Notes: Hawkins raced for Great Britain alongside brother Callum at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. - Born: 22 November 1992
Marathon best: 2:05:23, Valencia (2021)
London Marathon record: N/A
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Berlin: 2011 – DNF, 2012 – 3rd (2:06:12), 2013 – 3rd (2:06:26), 2014 – 4th (2:06:39); Tokyo: 2014 – 6th (2:07:37); New York: 2015 – 2nd (2:10:48), 2017 – 1st (2:10:53), 2018 – 3rd (2:06:26), 2019 – 1st (2:08:13); Boston: 2022 – 18th (2:11:49)
Other major city marathons: Rotterdam: 2013 – 4th (2:09:12); Valencia: 2021 – 4th (2:05:23)
Marathons in major championships: Worlds: 2022 – 5th (2:07:14)
Notes: Kamworor is a three-time World Half Marathon champion, two-time World Cross Country champion and a former World Half Marathon record holder. He was imperious over the 13.1 mile distance between 2014 and 2019 when he won three world titles in a row (2014, 2016 and 2018) and set a then world record of 58:01 at the Copenhagen Half Marathon in 2019. He has had success over the marathon distance, too, winning the New York City Marathon in both 2017 and 2019. He is a training partner and good friend of Eliud Kipchoge. In 2020, he was hit by a motorcycle while out on a training run and fractured his tibia. - Born: 3 August 1990
Marathon best: 2:04:28, London (2021)
London Marathon record: 2020 – 2nd (2:05:42), 2021 – 2nd (2:04:28)
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: N/A
Other major city marathons: Amsterdam: 2019 – 1st (2:05:09); Dresden: 2015 – 2nd (2:15:22), 2016 – 2nd (2:10:32); Frankfurt: 2017 – DNF; Mumbai: 2018 – 7th (2:15:15); Vienna: 2017 – 7th (2:12:39), 2019 – 1st (2:06:56)
Marathons in major championships: N/A
Notes: Kipchumba finished runner-up at the London Marathon in both 2020 and 2021. He was second behind Sisay Lemma in 2021 when he ran a new PB of 2:04:28, while in 2020 he was outsprinted in the closing metres by Shura Kitata in the elite-only race around St James’s Park. The Kenyan's breakthrough came in the spring of 2019 when he won the Vienna Marathon in 2:06:56. He then followed that up in the autumn by winning the prestigious Amsterdam Marathon in a PB of 2:05:09. He made his marathon debut in 2015 and ran his quickest half marathon of 60:32 when he placed second in Berlin in 2017. - Born: 16 September 1992
Marathon best: 2:03:13, Tokyo (2022)
London Marathon record: 2022 – 1st (2:04:39)
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Tokyo: 2018 – 3rd (2:06:33), 2020 – 18th (2:08:00), 2022 – 2nd (2:03:13); Berlin: 2018 – 2nd (2:06:23)
Other major city marathons: Dubai: 2016 – DNF, 2017 – DNF; Rome: 2016 – 1st (2:08:12); Seoul: 2017 – 1st (2:05:54); Amsterdam: 2016 – 13th (2:09:08), 2017 – 5th (2:05:43); Prague: 2019 – 3rd (2:06:46); Valencia: 2020 – 4th (2:03:30)
Marathons in major championships: Worlds: 2019 – 3rd (2:10:51); Olympic Games: 2020 (2021) – DNF
Notes: Kipruto won the biggest title of the year last year when he became the 2022 TCS London Marathon champion, on what was his debut in the UK capital. The Kenyan had a fine 2022, which also included finishing second at the Tokyo Marathon in a personal best time of 2:03:13. He also won a bronze medal in the marathon at the 2019 World Championships in Doha and has victories to his name in marathons in Rome and Seoul. - Born: 2 December 1999
Marathon best: 2:01:53, Valencia (2022)
London Marathon record: N/A
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: N/A
Other major city marathons: Valencia: 2022 – 1s (2:01:53)
Marathons in major championships: N/A
Notes: Kiptum ran the fastest debut marathon in history last December when he won the Valencia Marathon in 2:01:53, becoming the third-fastest man in history over the marathon distance behind Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele. - Born: 25 September 1995
Marathon best: 2:11:32, Houston (2022)
London Marathon record: N/A
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Chicago: 2022 – 30th (2:15:57)
Marathons in major championships: N/A - Born: 11 September 1994
Marathon best: 2:02:48, Berlin (2019)
London Marathon record: 2021 – 5th (2:06:10), 2022 – 6th (2:06:11)
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Chicago: 2018 – 10th (2:08:41); Tokyo: 2019 – 1st (2:04:48), 2020 – 1st (2:04:15), Berlin: 2019 – 2nd (2:02:48); Boston: 2022 – DNF
Other major city marathons: Dubai 2018 – 6th (2:04:15); Valencia 2020 – 3rd (2:03:16)
Marathons in major championships: N/A
Notes: Legese is the third fastest marathoner in history and a two-time winner of the Tokyo Marathon (2019 and 2020). The Ethiopian’s personal best of 2:02:48 was set when he finished second behind countryman Kenenisa Bekele at the 2019 BMW Berlin Marathon, a time which propelled him to third in the all-time marathon rankings behind Bekele and Eliud Kipchoge. Born and raised in Woliso – around 100km southwest of Addis Ababa – the diminutive Ethiopian arrived on the distance-running scene by finishing second in the 2012 Great Ethiopian Run. He finished sixth at last year’s London Marathon. - Born: 12 August 1996
Marathon best: 2:10:24, World Championships, Oregon (2022)
London Marathon record: 2019 – 16th (2:11:46)
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Boston: 2021 – 33rd (2:23:34)
Marathons in major championships: Worlds: 2022 – 20th (2:10:24)
Notes: Linkletter set his marathon personal best of 2:10:24 at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon. Has also represented Canada at the 2017 and 2019 World Cross Country Championships. - Born: 15 May 1992
Marathon best: 2:17:59, London (2020)
London Marathon record: 2020 – 25th (2:17:59) - Born: 23 March 1987
Marathon best: 2:15:19, Manchester (2022)
London Marathon record: N/A - Born: 11 March 1990
Marathon best: 2:17:42, Valencia (2022)
London Marathon record: 2017 – Championship start, 44th (2:23:17), 2018 – Championship start, 18th (2:28:24), 2019 – Championship start, 4th (2:20:08), 2021 – Championship start, 137th (2:33:04) - Born: 30 March 1992
Marathon best: 2:14:15, Chicago (2019)
London Marathon record: N/A - Born: 8 September 1982
Marathon best: 2:16:59, Manchester (2022)
London Marathon record: 2010 – 448th (2:49:50), 2011 – 404th (2:48:12), 2012 – 599th (2:51:56) - Born: 8 May 1991
Marathon best: 2:07:31, Fukuoka (2022)
London Marathon record: 2019 – 11th (2:10:55), 2022 – 8th (2:09:52)
Other Abbot World Marathon Majors: New York: 2019 – 23rd (2:17:50)
Notes: Robinson set a new Oceania record for the marathon when he ran 2:07:31 in Fukuoka in December 2022, just nine weeks after finishing eighth at the 2022 TCS London Marathon in a time of 2:09:52. Robinson has represented Australia at World Championships on both the track and in cross country and was part of the pacemaking team for Eliud Kipchoge’s historic INEOS 1:59 project. He also represented Australia in the marathon at the Tokyo Olympics and won the 2021 Melbourne Marathon. - Born: 3 October 1992
Marathon best: 2:12:10, London (2022)
London Marathon record: 2021 – 7th (2:12:58), 2022 – 10th 2:12:10
Marathons in major championships: Europeans: 2022 – 17th (2:15:17)
Notes: Sesemann made a name for himself on his marathon debut at the 2021 London Marathon, where he was the first British man home and seventh overall in a time of 2:12:58. He was also the first Brit at this summer’s European Championships, which he completed in 17th place in 2:15:17. Sesemann is a junior doctor based in Leeds and has represented Great Britain on the track at the European Indoor Championships. He has two dogs called Kipchoge and Haile. - Born: 28 September 1987
Marathon best: 2:18:40, Manchester (2022)
London Marathon record: N/A - Born: 17 April 1981
Marathon best: 2:10:52, Kew Gardens (2021)
London Marathon record: 2014 – 11th (2:11:19), 2016 – 16th (2:15:05), 2017 – 30th (2:24:11), 2020 – 19th (2:13:32)
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: New York: 2018 – 46th (2:28:54)
Other major city marathons: N/A
Marathons in major championships: Olympic Games: 2020 (2021) – 39th (2:21:29)
Notes: Thompson, now aged 42, qualified for his second Olympic Games last year by winning the British Marathon trials in Kew Gardens in a personal best time of 2:10:52. He then became the only British man to finish the energy-sapping Olympic marathon in Sapporo, coming home in 39th place. Thompson had a fine track career before moving up to the marathon. The highlight of his career was a silver medal (behind Mo Farah) in the 10,000m at the 2010 European Championships in Barcelona. He has struggled with injuries since but made the GB team for the home London 2012 Olympics. - Born: 20 July 1994
Marathon best: 2:53:33, Antarctic (2022)
London Marathon record: N/A
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: N/A
Marathons in major championships: N/A
Notes: Irishman Tobin set a world record for the fastest marathon in the Antarctic when he won the 2022 Antarctic Marathon in 2:53:33. - Born: 11 August 1991
Marathon best: 2:03:39, Amsterdam (2021)
London Marathon record: 2019 – 6th (2:06:57), 2020 – 6th (2:06:41)
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Boston: 2018 – DNF; New York: 2018 – 4th (2:08:30), 2019 – 4th (2:09:20)
Other major city marathons: Dubai: 2014 – 4th (2:06:17), 2017 – 1st (2:04:11), 2018 – 3rd (2:04:06); Gongju: 2014 – 8th (2:12:22); Amsterdam: 2021 – 1st (2:03:39)
Marathons in major championships: Worlds: 2017 – 2nd (2:09:49)
Notes: After coming so close at the 2017 World Championships in London (where he finished runner-up), Tola finally became the world champion in 2022 when he won the marathon at the Oregon World Championships (2:05:36). It came after he finished third at the 2022 Tokyo Marathon and won the 2021 Amsterdam Marathon in a PB of 2:03:39. The Ethiopian also won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the 10,000m. - Born: 19 June 1997
Marathon best: 2:04:29, Milan (2021)
London Marathon record: N/A
Other Abbott World Marathon Majors: Tokyo: 2019 – DNF; Chicago: 2019 – 6th (2:08:35), 2021 – 1st (2:06:12), 2022 – 2nd (2:04:49)
Other major city marathons: Seoul: 2017 – 2nd (2:09:26); Dubai: 2018 – 7th (2:04:44), 2020 – 8th (2:06:26); Milan: 2018 – 1st (2:09:04), 2021 – 4th (2:04:29); Shanghai: 2018 – 1st (2:09:18); Paris: 2022 – 2nd (2:05:10)
Marathons in major championships: Worlds: 2022 – 6th (2:07:17)
Notes: Tura is the winner of multiple marathons around the globe, with his biggest win coming at the 2021 Chicago Marathon. He nearly made it back-to-back wins in Chicago but had to settle for the runner-up spot in 2022. Other marathon wins on his CV include Milan and Shanghai, both in 2018. He was sixth in the marathon at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon.