Tens-of-thousands of people crossed the finish line of the London Marathon on Sunday including celebrities, MPs and campaigners.
More than 56,000 participants were expected on the 26.2-mile course as temperatures in the capital hit 22.2C.
Among them were David Stancombe and Sergio Aguiar, whose daughters Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were murdered in the Southport mass stabbing last summer.
The pair are raising money for projects in memory of their daughters and Bebe King, six, who was also killed in the July attack.
David Stancombe father of Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, who was killed in the Southport attack ran the London Marathon. Credit: PA
In a video message posted on X, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wished the pair “the very best of luck”, adding, “the entire nation is in awe of your courage and your resilience”.
The Prince and Princess of Wales also sent the family a “special message” and had also donated to Elsie’s Story, a charity that supports young people in Southport.
Running alongside them was Junnie Payne the headteacher of Churchtown Primary School where Alice and Bebe attended.
Sergio Aguiar, the father of Alice Aguiar, 9, who was one of three girls killed in the Southport attack, also ran the London Marathon. Credit: PA
Celebrities
Some familiar faces were also seen crossing the finish line and collecting their medals including radio presenter Adele Roberts who said she hopes her world record-breaking marathon runs show people with cancer they can “achieve anything”.
Roberts, who was previously treated for bowel cancer, broke the record for the fastest aggregate time to complete all World Marathon Major races with a stoma (female), upon completing the London Marathon.
She added: “I’ve been through much, in terms of recovering from cancer, and with every step even though it hurt, I just thought ‘you’re alive, you’re lucky to be experiencing this’, so it was lovely.”
A total of 42 world records were broken at the London marathon on Sunday, Guinness World Records announced.
Other famous faces included comedian and TV presenter Romesh Ranganathan, McFly drummer Harry Judd, former England footballer John Terry, actor Stephen Mangan, singer Alexandra Burke, TV presenter Helen Skelton, and fitness coach Joe Wicks also finished the race.
John Terry collecting his medal after finishing the London Marathon. Credit: PA
The Masked Singer presenter Joel Dommett, who was running to raise money and awareness for Brain Tumour Support, said he fainted before reaching the finish line.
He wrote on Instagram: “Not the race I expected! I fainted at mile 17 – don’t really remember much but I woke up in an ambulance!”
“Proud of myself for finishing.”
Joel Dommett said he fainted at mile 17 and woke up in an ambulance. Credit: PA
Emmerdale star Tony Audenshaw, who last ran the London Marathon in 2015, returned to support Pancreatic Cancer UK, the event’s charity of the year, after the death of his wife Ruth in April 2017 aged 43.
While fellow soap actor, Adam Woodyatt, who plays Ian Beale in EastEnders also finished the race.
16 MPs also took part in the race including shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick and Labour’s Josh Fenton-Glyn.
Comedian Romesh Ranganathan at the finish line in the Mall. Credit: PA
Fancy Dress
If the challenge of running a marathon alone wasn’t enough, some runners completed the race wearing fancy dress in the 22 degree heat.
Costumes spotted racing down the Mall included a group dressed as a colourful caterpillar, a pair dressed as shower gel bottles, a t-rex costume and Big Ben.
Participant dressed as a T-Rex runs through the capital for the London Marathon. Credit: PA
A man who has run 113 marathons dressed as a rhino said people were a “little bit shocked” by him in costume on the Tube on the way to the start line.
Chris Green, who is known as Rhino Boy Chris and is an ambassador for charity Save the Rhinos, holds the world record for the most marathons run in the same three-dimensional costume (male).
The costume, a large grey rhino outfit complete with large horn, was adorned on Sunday with a Union flag and hat.
He added: “You know what the best thing about wearing this costume is it brings out the big kid in everybody – if ever you’re feeling cynical about the world, put on a rhino costume and I guarantee you’ll see the best in people.”
Chris Green has the world record for running the Marathon dressed as a Rhino 113 times. Credit: PA
Also hoping to have achieved a Guinness World Record today is Ali Young, 51, who was attempting to break the world record for the fastest woman to run a marathon dressed as a bird.
The runner, from Amersham in Buckinghamshire, completed the race dressed as a penguin and said the atmosphere at the event was “absolutely amazing”.
Ms Young is fundraising on behalf of Maggie’s Cancer Care in memory of her late father.
The Winners
Setting off before the crowds was the elite runners and wheelchair races.
Ethiopian runner Tigst Assefa won the women’s elite race, setting a new women-only world record with a time of two hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds.
Tigst Assefa from Ethiopia won the women’s race setting a new world record. Credit: PA
Sebastian Sawe, from Kenya, came first in the men’s elite race with a time of two hours, two minutes and 27 seconds.
During the men’s elite race, two activists jumped the barrier and threw red paint onto Tower Bridge in protest of the Israel-Gaza war.
Team GB Olympic triathlon-winner, Alex Yee, 27, finished in 14th place in his first attempt at the distance., with a time of two hours, 11 minutes and eight seconds.
Swiss six-time Paralympic champion Catherine Debrunner successfully defended her 2024 title in the elite women’s wheelchair race, and her compatriot Marcel Hug did the same in the men’s.
Catherine Debrunner defended her title after winning the women’s race for the second time. Credit: PA
Crowds of supports lined the streets of London cheering on the runners and waving to their loved ones.
As runners crossed the finish line along the Mall, emotions ran high with a mixture of jubilance and exhaustion with some becoming emotional and shedding tears as they collected their medals.
London could set a new record for the world’s biggest marathon, which is currently held by the TCS New York Marathon in November when there were 55,646 finishers.
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