History of Marathons at the Olympics in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 27, 2024

The marathon is a prominent event at the Summer Olympics, being the sole road running competition. It debuted at the inaugural modern Olympics in 1896 for men, while women's participation commenced at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

1902: Tour de Paris Marathon Inaugurated

Inspired by the growing popularity of the Olympic marathon, the Tour de Paris Marathon held its inaugural race in 1902.

1906: Billy Sherring Triumphs in Intercalated Games

Canadian athlete Billy Sherring emerged victorious in the men's marathon at the 1906 Intercalated Games, covering a distance of 41.86 km.

1906: Intercalated Games: A Controversial Chapter

The 1906 Intercalated Games, held in Athens, aimed to bridge the gap between the internationally held Olympics. Despite initial recognition, the IOC later decided against including these games in the official Olympic series, creating debate among sports historians.

1907: Yonkers Marathon Joins the Running Scene

The Yonkers Marathon in New York joined the rising tide of marathon events with its first race in 1907.

1908: Standardization of Marathon Distance Begins

The 1908 London Olympics introduced the now-standard marathon distance of 26 miles, 385 yards (42.195 km), marking a significant step towards its official recognition.

1908: Marathon World Record Broken

The 1908 Olympics witnessed a groundbreaking moment as the men's marathon world record was shattered.

1909: London Polytechnic Marathon Kicks Off

Adding to the surge in marathon running, the London Polytechnic Marathon conducted its first race in 1909.

1920: Another World Record Falls

The 1920 Olympics further fueled the excitement surrounding the marathon with another world record-breaking performance.

1924: Marathon Distance Officially Standardized

The 1924 Paris Olympics solidified the marathon distance at 26 miles, 385 yards (42.195 km), making it the official and unchanging distance for all future Olympic marathons.

1960: Abebe Bikila Makes History

Abebe Bikila achieved a historic feat at the 1960 Olympics, not only winning the marathon but also setting a new world record.

1964: Olympic Marathon Tradition Begins

A new tradition emerged at the 1964 Tokyo Games: the men's Olympic marathon concluded the athletics calendar, finishing inside the Olympic stadium, a practice that continued in many subsequent Games.

1964: Abebe Bikila Repeats Triumph

Abebe Bikila cemented his legacy in 1964 by securing his second consecutive Olympic marathon gold medal and, once again, setting a new world record.

1984: Women's Marathon Added to the Olympics

In 1984, at the Los Angeles Olympics, the women's marathon was officially added to the Olympic athletics program.

2004: Athens Olympics Marathon: A Nod to History

Breaking from recent tradition, the 2004 Athens Olympics marathon concluded at the historic Panathenaic Stadium, emphasizing the event's historical significance.

2008: Samuel Wanjiru Sets Olympic Record

Samuel Wanjiru etched his name in Olympic history by setting a new men's marathon record of 2:06:32 hours at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

2012: London Olympics Marathon Takes to The Mall

The 2012 London Olympics featured The Mall as both the starting and finishing point for the marathon, deviating from the stadium finish tradition.

2012: Tiki Gelana Achieves Olympic Record

Tiki Gelana set a new Olympic record for the women's marathon at the 2012 London Games, clocking in at an impressive 2:23:07 hours.

2016: Rio Olympics Marathon Embraces Carnival Spirit

The 2016 Rio Olympics marathon started and finished at the Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí, integrating the race with the city's vibrant Carnival atmosphere.