Olympic champions Eliud Kipchoge, Sifan Hassan to light up NYC Marathon
By Joel Masibo, September 11, 2025Olympic champions Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya and Dutch Sifan Hassan have been included in the 2025 New York City Marathon.
In a statement on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, race organisers New York Road Runners (NYRR), the nonprofit that “runs” in New York City, which produces 60 annual adult and youth races, have announced the addition of the World Athletics champions to the event.
Eliud Kipchoge and Sifan Hassan will join a previously announced world-class field that now includes 51 Olympians and Paralympians and 18 Olympic, Paralympic, and World Championships medalists.
Men’s open division
Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, an 11-time Abbott World Marathon Majors champion with wins in Berlin, Tokyo, London, and Chicago, will make his highly anticipated TCS New York City Marathon debut, the only Major he has yet to race.
Widely regarded as the greatest marathoner of all time, Kipchoge captured back-to-back Olympic gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympic and 2020 Tokyo Olympic Marathons, becoming only the third man to do so. In between Olympic performances, he ran 1:59:40 at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge to break two hours in the marathon and redefine the limits of human endurance.
Upon completion of the TCS New York City Marathon, Kipchoge will earn the coveted Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Medal, awarded to athletes who finish the original six Major Marathons—Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York.
“Running the TCS New York City Marathon has been a long-standing goal of mine, and I’m honoured to join the tens of thousands of runners who will run through the five boroughs in November,” said Kipchoge. “I look forward to the city’s energy, its passionate running community, and the challenge of the iconic course.”
The former world record holder holds the fastest personal best in the field with a 2:01:09 from the 2022 Berlin Marathon. Kipchoge will face stiff competition from defending champion Abdi Nageeye, former TCS New York City Marathon champions Evans Chebet and Albert Korir, as well as 2024 Paris Olympic bronze medalist Benson Kipruto, two-time United Airlines NYC Half champion Abel Kipchumba, and 2024 London Marathon champion Alexander Mutiso.
Kipchoge most recently placed ninth at the Sydney Marathon in August.
Women’s open division
On the other hand, Sifan, of the Netherlands, will make her TCS New York City Marathon debut following a record-setting victory in Sydney where she ran an event record and became the first woman to run under 2:20 on Australian soil.
A threat across any distance, Hassan showcased her impressive range at the 2024 Paris Olympics, medaling in the 5,000m, 10,000m, and marathon, the first woman to complete the trifecta. Over the course of her gruelling Olympic schedule, she raced more than 38 miles, capping it off with an Olympic record in the marathon. For her Herculean effort, she was named the 2024 World Athletics Women’s Athlete of the Year.
Hassan made her marathon debut at the 2023 London Marathon, winning the race despite stopping several times mid-race to stretch and in total, has won four of her six career marathons.
“The TCS New York City Marathon is legendary, and I’m thrilled to take on another Abbott World Marathon Major,” said Hassan. “I love a challenge and am ready to test myself against the world’s best athletes.”
Hassan owns the fastest personal best in the women’s open division field by nearly four minutes, but will contend against familiar faces and former TCS New York City Marathon champions Sheila Chepkirui, Hellen Obiri, and Sharon Lokedi. The last time Hassan, Obiri, and Lokedi raced was at the 2024 Paris Olympic Marathon, where Hassan claimed gold, Obiri secured bronze, and Lokedi finished just off the podium in fourth.
Taking place on Sunday, November 2, 2025, the TCS New York City Marathon is one of the most inclusive and accessible sporting events in the world, with more than 55,000 athletes running the same course on the same day. Last year’s race set an event record with 55,642 finishers, which at the time was the largest marathon in world history.