This is a list of marathoners who are athletes notable for their achievements in the marathon. For a list of people notable in other fields who have also run marathons, see List of marathoners who are non-running specialists.

Legend

Tom Longboat was a dominant runner in the 1900s.
Symbol/ColumnDescription
Gold medal in the Olympics, IAAF World Championships or World Marathon Majors
Silver medal in the Olympics, IAAF World Championships or World Marathon Majors
Bronze medal in the Olympics, IAAF World Championships or World Marathon Majors
(#)Placement in any major marathon competition ranked 4th or below
Name Athlete's name
Names in bold are current or former world record holders.
CountryAthlete's citizenship during competition
OlympicsPlacement in the Olympics
IAAF WCMedal years in the IAAF World Championships
WMMPlacement in the World Marathon Majors
1stMarathon Victories. Number of times athlete placed first in a marathon (excludes Olympics and World Championships)
Career BestFastest marathon time during career
OtherOther notable information

Men

Haile Gebrselassie is regarded as one of the greatest distance runners in history.
Sohn Kee-chung is the first Korean Olympic Champion in any discipline.
Name Country Olympics IAAF WC WMM 1s Career Best Other Ref
Gezahegne Abera  Ethiopia 2000 2001 5 2:07:54 First to win gold at Olympics and World Championships [1]
Abel Antón  Spain 1997
1999
2 2:07:54 First to win two golds at World Championships
Stefano Baldini  Italy 2004
(12) 2008
2001
2003
3 Two time European champion
Dick Beardsley  United States 3 The "Duel in the Sun" with Alberto Salazar at the 1982 Boston Marathon.
Abebe Bikila  Ethiopia 1960
1964
First black African gold medalist by winning in Rome barefoot, previous world record holder
Gelindo Bordin  Italy 1988 1987 6 Two time European champion
Amby Burfoot  United States 1 2:14:28 Boston Marathon winner
Dionicio Cerón  Mexico 7 2:12:13 [2]
Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot  Kenya 2006/2007
2007/2008
2008/2009
7 2:07:14
Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot  Kenya 2 2:05:52
Waldemar Cierpinski  East Germany 1976
1980
1983
Andrea Cionna  Italy 2:31:59 World record holder for the fastest marathon run by a totally blind man
Derek Clayton  Australia 2:08:34 The first to run a world record under 02:10:00
Robert de Castella  Australia 1983 4 2:07:51 Former marathon world record holder; holds Australian national record
Belayneh Densamo  Ethiopia 7 2:06:50 Held the world record for the span of 10 years.
Leonard Edelen  United States 1964 2:14:28 In 1963, he became the first American to hold the world record since 1925.
Steve Edwards First person to complete 500 sub 3:30:00 marathons [3]
Stefaan Engels  Belgium First person to complete 365 marathons in 365 days [4]
Martín Fiz  Spain (4) 1996 1995
1997
3
Haile Gebrselassie  Ethiopia 2006/2007
2007/2008
2008/2009
9 2:03:59 Winner of many distance racing championships and holder of 27 world records [5]
Jaouad Gharib  Morocco 2008 2003
2005
2:05:27
Rodolfo Gómez  Mexico (19) 1976
(6) 1980
3 2:09:33
Ryan Hall  United States (10) 2008
(DNF) 2012
2:04:58
Hal Higdon  United States Freelance writer for Runner's World; a founder of Road Runners Club of America
Ron Hill  United Kingdom 1964
1972
2:09:28
Hwang Young-Cho  South Korea 1992 3 2:08:09
Juma Ikangaa  Tanzania (6) 1984
(7) 1988
(34) 1992
Steve Jones  United Kingdom 4 2:07:13 Former marathon world record holder
Veikko Karvonen  Finland (5) 1952
Yuki Kawauchi  Japan (18) 2011, 2013 10 2:07:27 More than 100 sub 2:20 marathons
Tsegaye Kebede  Ethiopia 2008 2009 (5) 2008/2009
2009/2010
4 2:05:18
Meb Keflezighi  United States 2004 1 2:08:37
Khalid Khannouchi  Morocco
 United States
5 2:05:42 Former marathon world record holder
Dennis Kipruto Kimetto  Kenya 2:02:57 Former marathon world record holder
Eliud Kipchoge  Kenya 2016 2:01:39 Current marathon world record holder (2018)
Stephen Kiprotich  Uganda 2012 2013 2:07:20
Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich  Kenya 2012 2:03:42 Former marathon world record holder
Abel Kirui  Kenya 2012 2009
2011
2:06:51
Hannes Kolehmainen  Finland 1920
Lee Bong-Ju  South Korea 1996 2:07:20 Winner of the Boston Marathon in 2001
Martin Lel  Kenya 2007/2008
2006/2007
5 2:05:15
Vanderlei de Lima  Brazil 2004
Tom Longboat  Canada
Carlos Lopes  Portugal 1984 2:07:12 Former marathon world record holder
Frederick Lorz  United States 1 Disqualified from 1904 Olympics after crossing first, but legitimately won the Boston Marathon a year later
Spyridon Louis  Greece 1896 First Olympic gold medalist for the marathon
Patrick Makau  Kenya 2011 1 2:03:38 Former marathon world record holder
Deriba Merga  Ethiopia 2 2:06:39
Greg Meyer  United States 2 2:09:00 Won 1983 Boston Marathon
Franjo Mihalić  Independent State of Croatia
 Yugoslavia
1956 1 2:21:24
Alain Mimoun  France 1956
Steve Moneghetti  Australia (5) 1988
1992
1996
(10) 2000
1997
Koichi Morishita  Japan 1992 2 2:08:53
Emmanuel Kipchirchir Mutai  Kenya 2009 1
Takeyuki Nakayama  Japan (4) 1988
(4) 1992
5 2:08:15
Gerard Nijboer  Netherlands 1980 2:09:01
Tsuyoshi Ogata  Japan (12) 2003
2005
(5) 2007
1 2:08:37
Benjamín Paredes  Mexico (8) 1996
(64) 2000
2 2:10:40
Jim Peters  United Kingdom 2:19:22 Set the World Record four times, the first person to have run a sub-2:20:00 marathon.
António Pinto  Portugal 1988
1992
(14) 1996
(11) 2000
4 2:06:36 One of two holders of European record
Orlando Pizzolato  Italy (16) 1988 (7) 1987 3 2:10:57
Hendrick Ramaala  South Africa (12) 2000 (9) 2003
(27) 2007
2 2:09:28
Julio Rey  Spain (37) 2001
2003
(8) 2005
4 2:06:52
Bill Rodgers  United States (40) 1976 22 2:09:27 Posted multiple major victories in the late 1970s. Held the American record multiple times.
Alberto Salazar  United States 4 2:08:13 Won the New York Marathon for 3 consecutive years
Marílson Gomes dos Santos  Brazil 2 2:08:43 First South American to win the New York Marathon
Nobuyuki Sato  Japan 1999 2:08:48
Toshihiko Seko  Japan (14) 1984
(9) 1988
10 2:08:27
Morio Shigematsu  Japan 6 2:12:00 Held world record June 12, 1965 – December 3, 1967
Frank Shorter  United States 1972
1976
2:10:30 Only American to win multiple medals in the Olympic marathon
Silvio Guerra  Ecuador (14) 2000 2 2:09:49 Holds Ecuadorian Marathon Record since 1997
Germán Silva  Mexico (6) 1996 2 2:08:56 Won the New York Marathon for two consecutive years
Fauja Singh  United Kingdom Holder of multiple records in the 90+ age group
Shigeru So  Japan 6 2:09:05
Takeshi So  Japan (4) 1984 4 2:08:55
Sohn Kee-chung  Japan 1936 9 2:25:14 First Korean Olympic Champion in any discipline, while representing Japan. Held the World Record for the longest span of 11.5 years.
Albin Stenroos  France 1924
Toshinari Takaoka  Japan (4) 2005 1 2:06:16
Hiromi Taniguchi  Japan (8) 1992 1991
5 2:07:40
Josia Thugwane  South Africa 1996
(20) 2000
4 2:07:28
Tesfaye Tola  Ethiopia 2000 2:06:57 [6]
Erick Wainaina  Kenya 1996
2000
(7) 2004
(18) 1995 7 2:08:43 One of the few athletes in Olympic history to finish in the top 10 at three separate marathons
Samuel Wanjiru  Kenya 2008 (4) 2007/2008
2008/2009
2009/2010
4 2:05:10 Holds current Olympic record
Mamo Wolde  Ethiopia 1968
1972
Dimitrion Yordanidis  Greece Oldest man to complete a marathon, at age 98 [7]
Emil Zátopek  Czechoslovakia 1952
(6) 1956
Won Olympic gold in his first marathon in Olympic record time
Sondre Nordstad Moen  Norway 2:05:48 First european runner to finish under 2:06:00 (Fukuoka, 2017).

Women

Joan Benoit won gold in the first ever women's Olympic marathon during the 1984 games.
Name Country Olympics IAAF WC WMM 1st Career Best Other Ref
Tomoe Abe  Japan 1993 3 2:26:09 Holder of IAAF 100 km Road Women's World Record
Yukiko Akaba  Japan (5) 2011 2:24:08
Elfenesh Alemu  Ethiopia (6) 2000
(4) 2004
3 2:24:29
Yuko Arimori  Japan 1992
1996
2 2:26:39
Junko Asari  Japan 1993 3 2:26:10
Joan Benoit  United States 1984 3 2:21:21 First female gold medalist in women's marathon
Carla Beurskens  Netherlands (22) 1984
(34) 1988
(17) 1987 14 2:28:27
Joyce Chepchumba  Kenya 2000 2:23:22
Masako Chiba  Japan 2003 4 2:21:45
Zhou Chunxiu  China 2008 2:19:51
Constantina Diţă-Tomescu  Romania 2008 1 2:21:30
Adriana Fernández  Mexico 1 2:24:06 First Mexican woman to win the New York City Marathon, in a time of 2:25:06
Franca Fiacconi  Italy (13) 1997 1 2:25:17
Katrin Dörre-Heinig  East Germany
 Germany
1988
(5) 1992
(4) 1996
1991
(6) 1993
17 2:24:35
Kayoko Fukushi  Japan 2013 2:24:21
Jacqueline Gareau  Canada (5) 1983 3 2:30:58
Tiki Gelana  Ethiopia 2012 1 2:18:58
Bobbi Gibb  United States 3 First woman to run the entire Boston Marathon
Kara Goucher  United States (10) 2009 2:25:53
Lidiya Grigoryeva  Russia 4 2:25:10
Ari Ichihashi  Japan 1999 2:27:02
Helena Javornik 3 2:27:33
Priscah Jeptoo  Kenya 2012 2011 2:20:14
Olivera Jevtić  Serbia 4 2:25:23
Deena Kastor  United States 2004 2:19:36
Mary Keitany  Kenya 2010/2011 2:18:37
Edna Kiplagat  Kenya 2010/2011 2:19:50
Lornah Kiplagat  Kenya 4 2:22:22
Renata Kokowska  Poland 3 2:26:20
Brigid Kosgei  Kenya} 2:14:04 Current marathon world record holder (2019)
Salina Kosgei  Kenya 2009/2010 2:23:22
Ingrid Kristiansen  Norway 1987
(7) 1991
15 2:21:06 One of the best female distance runners in the 1980s
Véronique Marot  United Kingdom (16) 1992 (22) 1987 4 2:25:56
Lisa Martin  Australia 1988 5 2:23:51
Catherina McKiernan  Ireland 3 2:22:23 Multiple medalist at the World Cross Country Championships.
Irina Mikitenko  Germany 2007/2008
2008/2009
2009/2010
2:19:19
Lorraine Moller  New Zealand (5) 1984
(33) 1988
1992
(46) 1992
9 2:28:17
Rosa Mota  Portugal 1984
1988
1987 6 2:23:29 Awarded 1988 Abebe Bikila Award
Catherine Ndereba  Kenya 2004
2008
2003
2005
2007
7 2:18:47
Mizuki Noguchi  Japan 2004 2003 5 2:19:12 Asia Record holder, Course Record holder of Berlin Marathon
Yoshimi Ozaki  Japan 2009 2 2:23:130
Tatyana Petrova Arkhipova  Russia 2012 2:23:29
Uta Pippig  East Germany
 Germany
(6) 1991 2:21:45 First woman to win the Boston Marathon three consecutive times
Jeļena Prokopčuka  Latvia 2 3 2:24:41 2:25:05
Paula Radcliffe  United Kingdom 2005 8 2:15:25 Holder of several long distance world records
Fatuma Roba  Ethiopia 1996
(9) 2000
(19) 1995
(13) 2001
5 2:23:21
Allison Roe  New Zealand 2 2:25:29
Yoko Shibui  Japan 4 2:19:41
Liliya Shobukhova  Russia 2009/2010
2010/2011
2:18:20
Lidia Șimon  Romania 2000 2:22:54
Hiromi Suzuki  Japan 1997 2 2:26:27
Kathrine Switzer  United States 1 2:51:37 First woman to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entry
Naoko Takahashi  Japan 2000 7 2:19:46
Reiko Tosa  Japan 2001
2007
3 2:22:46
Grete Waitz  Norway 1984 1983 13 2:24:54
Gete Wami  Ethiopia 2006/2007
2007/2008
4 2:21:34
Sachiko Yamashita  Japan (4) 1992 1991 2:29:57
Valentina Yegorova  Russia 1992
1996
1 2:23:33


References

  1. "Gezahegne Abera". Global Athletics and Marketing Inc. Archived from the original on 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
  2. "Dionicio Cerón". IAAF. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
  3. Cotswolds runner Steve Edwards sets world marathon record
  4. "Stefaan Engels completes 365 marathons in 365 days".
  5. "What makes Gebrselassie great?". Joe Battaglia. NBC Universal Sports. 2010-11-05. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  6. "iaaf.org - Athletes". Archived from the original on 2012-10-11.
  7. "Guinness World Record: Great Greeks". Guinness World Record. Guinness World Record. 2010. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
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