Istanbul Marathon unites continents with over 41,000 participants

The 47th edition of the Istanbul Marathon, organized by Spor Istanbul, successfully brought together a massive field of over 41,000 athletes from 126 nations for the world's sole intercontinental running event this Sunday. Participants in the Türkiye İş Bankası-sponsored race experienced the unique course that starts on the Asian side of Istanbul and concludes in the historic Sultanahmet Square on the European side, crossing the Bosphorus.

Elite Race Outcomes

In the men's elite race, victory was secured by Kenya's Rhonzas Lokitam Kilimo with a time of 2 hours, 10 minutes, and 12 seconds. He was followed by last year's champion, fellow Kenyan Dejene Debela, and Ethiopia's Sufaro Woliyi. The women's race saw a close finish, with Ethiopia's Bizuager Aderra taking first place, just two seconds ahead of her compatriot Sofia Assefa, while Kenya's Joan Jepkosgei finished third.

Prizes and Turkish Athletes

The event distributed substantial prize money, with elite category winners receiving $50,000. A separate prize pool of 400,000 Turkish Liras was allocated for the top five Turkish finishers in both the men's and women's divisions, highlighting the event's role in promoting domestic athletics. Additional awards were given across various age groups and the wheelchair category, with a total of 9.5 million liras awarded throughout the marathon.

A Unifying Sporting Spectacle

As a World Athletics Gold Label event, the Istanbul Marathon reinforces the city's global sporting profile. The race, which included a full marathon, a 15.5-kilometer run, and corporate and public runs, stands as a powerful symbol of unity, physically and culturally connecting the two continents and showcasing Türkiye's capacity to host world-class international events.