43rd Authentic Athens Marathon records historic participation

The 43rd Authentic Athens Marathon took place on Sunday, November 8, 2026, marking a record-breaking event with over 85,000 participants from 124 to 125 countries. The festivities, which began on Saturday, November 7, reached a climax with the classic 42.195-kilometer route. Starting at 08:30 from Marathon, approximately 25,000 runners competed in this iconic path, finishing at the historic Panathenaic Stadium.

Ethiopian runner Manazot Siyoum Taferi secured victory and set a new course record, finishing the race in 2 hours, 10 minutes, and 3 seconds. Among the Greek participants, Kostas Stamoulis was the first to cross the finish line, followed by Babis Pitsolis. The event necessitated extensive traffic regulations in Athens, including closures along Marathonos Avenue, Mesogeion Avenue, and Vasilissis Sofias, leading toward the Panathenaic Stadium.

This year's marathon highlighted the event's growing international prestige and its deep symbolic connection to history. The successful completion of the race reaffirms its status as a premier fixture in the global running calendar, drawing professional athletes and enthusiasts to the Greek capital.