Gobena smashes Sydney Marathon record

Addisu Gobena, an Ethiopian athlete, has emerged victorious in the 2026 Sydney Marathon, setting a new record for the event. The inaugural wave of 40,000 participants began their 42.2-kilometre journey from North Sydney to the Opera House at 6:15am. This marks the second year the marathon has been designated as a prestigious Abbott World Marathon Major, attracting competitive runners from around the world alongside the general public.

Gobena demonstrated exceptional speed, completing the grueling race in a record-breaking time of 2:04:42, shaving off more than a minute from the previous year's champion, Hailemaryam Kiros, who finished the course in 2:06:06. Kenyan runner Peres Jepchirchir claimed the women's title, finishing the 42.2-kilometre course in 2:18:31, just slightly slower than the record set by last year's women's champion, Sifan Hassan, who completed the race in 02:18:22.

The wheelchair division made an impressive start to the race, with USA's Daniel Romanchuk crossing the finish line first in a time of 1:26:50, setting a new record. Paralympic athlete Manuela Schär followed as the first female runner to complete the marathon, finishing the course in 1:42:04 and also setting a new record. Notably, Schär is the first athlete to successfully complete all four major marathon events.

Motorists are advised to steer clear of the central business district due to extensive road closures, with the Sydney Harbour Bridge remaining closed until 11am. In addition, major roads such as Oxford Street, Flinders Street, and Anzac Parade are among those affected by the event. To navigate the situation, public transport is recommended, with additional services operating to accommodate the surge in demand.