London Marathon 2024: Elite runners, world record bids, GB athletes to watch, celebrities and weather

London Marathon

The image used in this blog is provided by Getty Images.

Kelvin Kiptum was victorious in both the London Marathon and the Chicago Marathon in the past year. This was after triumphing in his first-ever marathon in Valencia in 2022.

London Marathon - Figure 1
Photo BBC News

The London Marathon in 2024 presented by TCS In 2024, TCS will be presenting the London Marathon.

Date: Sunday, April 21st Time: 9:05 AM BST for the wheelchair races, 9:25 AM for the elite women's race, 10:00 AM for the elite men's race, and the masses.

You can watch the live coverage of the event starting from 08:30 on various platforms such as BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website, and app.

On Sunday's London Marathon, there will be acknowledgements for Kelvin Kiptum, the 2023 champion, the possibility of breaking a world record, and renowned individuals participating in the race.

In February, Kiptum, who held a world record, passed away in a car crash in his native country of Kenya. He was only 24 years old.

Before the race commences, there will be video and spoken commemorations. Moreover, there will be an opportunity for all participants to applaud Kiptum, who set a course record of completing last year's men's race in just two hours one minute 25 seconds.

"I believe that the world has yet to fully recognize him. Our intention is to commemorate him," stated race coordinator Hugh Brasher in an interview with BBC Sport.

The planners are expecting a larger number of participants compared to the previous years. They estimate that over 50,000 individuals will successfully finish the path from Greenwich Park to The Mall.

You can catch all the action of the race live starting at 08:30 BST on Sunday by tuning in to BBC One, using the BBC iPlayer, or accessing the online stream.

Discover all the essential information about the upcoming London Marathon in 2024.

Assefa Aims For World Record With Elite Female Runners

In the women's race, the top three fastest competitors in history will be competing against each other to try and win the race and possibly break a world record.

It is anticipated that Ethiopa's world record holder, Tigst Assefa, will try to break the women's only marathon world record of 2:17:01 set in London in 2017.

Assefa is confident of breaking the course record at the Berlin Marathon, having previously completed it in 2 hours, 11 minutes and 53 seconds. However, her main goal is to emerge as the overall winner of the race.

A group of notable runners are set to participate alongside the 27-year-old in the upcoming race, including the former record holder Brigid Kosgei, fellow Kenyan athlete Ruth Chepngetich, Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir, and Yalemzerf Yehualaw, who emerged victorious at the 2022 London Marathon.

Tamirat Tola, from Ethiopia, will attempt to defend his win at the New York City Marathon in November and do better than his third-place finish at the London Marathon last year in the men's race.

Among the competitors are fellow countryman Mosinet Geremew, who is ranked as the seventh fastest runner in history. Also competing are Alexander Mutiso Munyao, who was the runner-up in the Valencia Marathon, and legendary distance runner Kenenisa Bekele.

Cairess Makes A Strong Comeback After Impressive Debut In GB

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In the previous year, Emile Cairess established a new European record for running the distance of 10 miles.

Emile Cairess is back in action after completing his first London Marathon last year and achieving the third quickest time ever recorded by a British athlete, with a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 7 seconds.

The men's race will feature Scottish record holder Callum Hawkins, Marc Scott, who won a bronze medal in the 2022 world indoor 3,000m, and Mahamed Mahamed, who had a good debut at last year's Valencia Marathon and is aiming to do even better this time around.

In the women's race, Becky Briggs and Alice Wright are currently the top British performers. Anya Culling is also participating with the goal of continuing her impressive development since completing her initial London Marathon in 2019, which took more than four and a half hours to finish.

Rachel Hodgkinson and Helen Gaunt are also participating in the elite race, along with newcomers Mhairi Maclennan and Lucy Reid.

David Weir, from Great Britain, will be competing in the elite wheelchair races in London for the 25th year in a row. He has recently acquired a new racing chair that has helped him surpass many of his previous records and achievements. Weir is determined to beat his long-standing rival, Marcel Hug, who has won the championship five times.

British talent Eden Rainbow-Cooper achieved her greatest success at the Boston Marathon and will now face off against the former four champions of the women's wheelchair race at the London Marathon. These previous champions include Madison de Rozario, Catherine Debrunner, Manuela Schar, and Nikita den Boer.

Celebs, Athletes & Inspiring Stories In Sports

Jasmin Paris, who made history by being the first woman to finish the Barkley Marathons, a challenging endurance race back in March, is going to kick off the elite women's competition. After that, Dame Kelly Holmes, who won two gold medals at the Athens Olympics two decades ago, will be starting the elite men's race.

Just like every year, the course will be graced by well-known personalities who are there to gather funds for charitable causes. Around 63 million pounds was raised during the last event, and this year comedians like Romesh Ranganathan, Rosie Jones, Ivo Graham, Maisie Adams, and Joel Dommett will be joining the effort.

Actress Ruth Wilson, who won a prestigious Golden Globe award, and fellow actor Phil Dunster from the hit show Ted Lasso, are both set to make their first-ever appearances in a marathon race. Meanwhile, actors Emma Barton and Jamie Borthwick, known for their roles on BBC's EastEnders program, will be participating in the race as their beloved characters Honey and Jay.

Several other famous people are McFly drummer Harry Judd, ex-Doctor Who performer Christopher Eccleston, and vocalist Tom Grennan.

Celebrity actors from the popular British soap opera, EastEnders, have announced that they plan to participate in this year's London Marathon while dressed in their on-screen personas. This is a unique and exciting way for the actors to fundraise for their preferred charities. Fans of the show will undoubtedly be thrilled to see their favourite characters running the marathon route! The London Marathon is one of the world's most renowned races, and it attracts runners from all over. The celebrities' participation could also help to raise awareness for the charities they are supporting, as well as the general importance of exercise and fitness. Overall, this is an innovative idea that promises to be both entertaining and beneficial for a good cause.

Merely a fortnight after accomplishing his feat of running across the vast expanse of Africa, Russ Cook, who goes by the nickname 'Hardest Geezer', will unite with a bunch of youths from The Running Charity.

The Samaritans group has been chosen as the charity for this year's London Marathon, and their leader Dave Lock is set to participate in the event for the 25th year in a row.

He plans to participate while wearing a huge green telephone outfit. This time, he's accompanied by his daughter Isabella, and they are both running to honor his younger brother Steven.

An unprecedented number of 578,374 individuals submitted their names for the lottery, hoping to secure a spot in the 2024 London Marathon.

Last year, a new high was set with over 48,600 runners crossing the finish line. This Sunday, a whopping 65,725 runners from 158 countries are registered to participate.

David Picksley, aged 91, holds the title of the oldest participant in this year's marathon. On the other end of the age spectrum, we have 18-year-old William Hamilton as the youngest contender. Interestingly, there will be 270 runners who will commemorate their birthday on the day of the marathon.

Weather Forecast: What Does It Say?

The athletes have made all necessary arrangements to get ready for the Sunday race. However, there is uncertainty about whether the climate conditions will be favorable for them.

The weather prediction appears promising, as there is no projected rainfall for most of the day and a gentle wind is anticipated. The expected temperature is 10-12 Celsius.

Tracking London Marathon 2024: Tips & Tricks

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Elite races will take place from 8:20am until 3:00pm.

The Tower Bridge camera is active from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM.

From 1:00pm to 6:00pm, the cameras at the finish line will be in operation.

coverage is always on top of the game! They provide up-to-the-minute details and analysis on all the latest sporting events so that you can stay informed on everything that's happening. From the latest football fixtures to breaking news stories about your favourite athletes, BBC Sport has got you covered. Their team of expert reporters and analysts are dedicated to delivering the most accurate and engaging coverage possible. So, whether you're a diehard sports fan or just looking to keep up with the latest happenings, BBC Sport's website live text coverage is the perfect resource for you. Rewritten: If you want to stay updated on the latest sporting events and news, BBC Sport's website live text coverage is an excellent resource. Their team of experienced reporters and analysts provides accurate and engaging coverage on everything from football fixtures to athlete updates. Whether you're a devoted sports fan or just curious about current events, BBC Sport is sure to keep you informed. So, if you're looking for a reliable source to stay up-to-the-minute on all things sports-related, look no further than BBC Sport's website live text coverage.

Come and join us for the live text commentary from 08:30 to 14:30. Share with us what motivates you to participate in the marathon or send a message of encouragement for your loved ones competing. Take part in the conversation by using #bbcmarathon on X, messaging us on WhatsApp at 03301231826 or sending a text message to 81111 (UK residents only, standard messaging charges apply).

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