The London Marathon is actively considering a radical overhaul for its 2027 edition, potentially allowing elite women to compete in mixed-gender races alongside male runners and pacemakers. This strategic shift aims to eliminate the artificial barriers of separate start times, creating the optimal conditions for athletes to challenge the overall world record. By integrating women into the main field, organizers believe they can harness the pacing dynamics of a full race to push performance limits beyond what segregated starts have historically allowed.
CEO Hugh Brasher backs mixed-gender format to break Chepng’etich’s controversial 2:09:56 mark
The impetus for this change stems from the current state of marathon records, which are mired in controversy and injury. The overall world record of 2:09:56, set by Ruth Chepng’etich at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, is currently under a cloud after the Kenyan star failed a drug test and received a three-year ban in 2025. Meanwhile, Tigst Assefa, holder of the women-only record (2:15:41 from the 2026 London Marathon), suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon at the Berlin Marathon this year. Assefa limped home in 2:11:04, a performance that would have broken the overall record had she not been injured, highlighting the close proximity of elite women to the top mark.
London Marathon CEO Hugh Brasher expressed deep concern for Assefa’s injury but remains optimistic about the potential of a mixed format. He views the proposed change as a crucial opportunity for Assefa, should she recover in time, to legitimately surpass Chepng’etich’s disputed time. By removing the separation between genders, the 2027 race could provide the competitive edge necessary to establish a clean, undisputed world record, setting a new benchmark for the sport’s future.
Source: The Independent Sport
