The Paris Marathon () is an annual marathon hosted by the city of Paris, France. It is the largest running event in France in terms of finishers and is typically among the five largest marathons in the world.
The marathon begins along the Champs-Élysées, runs southeast through the city to the Bois de Vincennes, heads back through the city along the River Seine, and finishes on Avenue Foch.
History
Tour de Paris era The first Paris Marathon, the Tour de Paris Marathon, took place in 1896. A big crowd gathered to watch 191 participants. It was run over a course of from Paris to Conflans-Sainte-Honorine via Versailles, and the organisers decided to award a commemorative medal to all runners who finished the race in less than 4 hours.
The distance of 40 km was chosen as it was the distance separating Marathon from Athens. The current distance of the race is 42.195 km, which the IAAF established in 1921 as the standard length of a marathon, following the 1908 Olympic race in London.
This first race was won by Len Hurst from England who crossed the finishing line in 2 hours, 31 minutes and 30 seconds. His prize money was 200 francs.
Some sources, including the Association of Road Racing Statisticians, consider Frenchwoman Marie-Louise Ledru as the first female to race the now-defined marathon distance of 42.195 km, as she set a time of 5 hours and 40 minutes during the 1918 edition of the Tour de Paris, while other sources, including the International Association of Athletics Federations, credits Violet Piercy as the first to do so.
Current era
The present Paris Marathon dates from 1976. It is normally held on a Sunday in April and is limited to 50,000 runners. It is organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation. It is notable for the attractive route through the heart of the city of Paris.
Unlike most other marathons, but like all races in France, the Paris Marathon has required a doctor's note no more than a year old, stating that there is "no contraindication to competitive running". However, since the 2025 edition, organisers have instead allowed competitors to complete an online self-certification instead.
In 2024, the Paris Marathon had 53,899 finishers. This set a new world record for the largest marathon in the world - exceeding the previous record at the 2019 New York City Marathon. The record was short-lived, though, as the 2024 Berlin Marathon exceeded that number with 54,154 finishers six months later in September.
The 2026 edition of the Paris Marathon took place on April 12, attracting over 50,000 participants. The race followed its traditional route starting at the Champs-Élysées and finishing at Avenue Foch. The event was notable for being the first major marathon held in the city following the 2025 implementation of the "Green Corridor" initiatives along the Seine, which provided improved air quality and expanded spectator zones for the record crowds.
Course
The race starts on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées going downhill to circle round the Place de la Concorde before turning right onto Rue de Rivoli. The route passes the Louvre, then goes round the Place de la Bastille, and down Boulevard Soult to the Bois de Vincennes. A long loop of the Bois de Vincennes returns the route into the heart of Paris. The halfway point is reached at Rue de Charenton. The route now follows the course of the Seine, passing Île de la Cité and going under the Pont Neuf, then a series of tunnels. There is a large drinks station and foot massage site at Trocadéro, opposite the Eiffel Tower. The route continues along the Seine, before branching off east to eventually pass through Bois de Boulogne, emerging for the final 200 metres and the finish on the Avenue Foch.
Race summaries
2026 The race was held on April 12, 2026. Yemaneberhan Crippa won the men's race with a time of 2:05:18. Shure Demise won the women's race in a course-record time of 2:18:34.
2025 The race was held on April 13, 2025. Benard Biwott won the men's race with a time of 2:05:25. Bedatu Hirpa won the women's race with a time of 2:20:45.
2024 The race was held on April 7, 2024. Mulugeta Uma won the men's event with a time of 2:05:33. Mestawot Fikir won the women's race in 2:20:45.
2023 The race was held on April 2, 2023. Abeje Ayana won the men's event in his first marathon with a time of 2:07:15. Helah Kiprop overcame a 1 minute + deficit to win the women's race in 2:23:19
2021
The 2021 edition of the race was postponed to due to the pandemic, before registration opened.
2020 The 2020 edition of the race was originally postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, rescheduled for the autumn on 15 November 2020, before being cancelled in August. Registrants were given the option of transferring their entry to 2021, obtaining a voucher of equivalent value, or obtaining a refund after 18 months.
2019 The race took place on Sunday, April 14, 2019. Abraha Milaw took the men's title in 2 h 07 min 05 sec, a personal best. He prevented Paul Lonyangata, who finished in third place, from claiming a third successive title. Gelete Burka took the women's title with a time of 2 h 22 min 47 sec, leading home an all Ethiopian podium.
2018 The race was run on April 8, 2018. Paul Lonyangata became the first men's runner in 28 years to claim back-to-back Paris marathon titles after he successfully defended his crown in a time of 2 h 06 min 25 sec. Kenya retained the women's title too, as Betsy Saina raced to victory in 2 h 22 min 56 sec, just three seconds ahead of countrywoman and silver medalist, Ruth Chepngetich.
2017 The race was run on April 9, 2017. The top male finisher was Kenyan Paul Lonyangata in a time of 2 h 06 min 10 sec. The top female finisher was Kenyan Purity Rionoripoe with a time of 2 h 20 min 55 sec. 42483 participants started the race, 41736 finished it.
2016 On April 3, 2016, the men's race was won by Cyprian Kotut, who stopped the clock at 2:07:11 for his first marathon win. The top four finishers in the men's race were Kenyan. In the women's race, Visiline Jepkesho, again from Kenya, came home first in 2:25:53.
2015 The race was run on April 12, 2015. The top male finisher was Kenyan Mark Korir in a time of 2 h 05 min 48 sec. The top female finisher was Ethiopian's Meseret Mengistu with a time of 2 h 23 min 26 sec.
2014 The race was run on April 6, 2014. The top male finisher, Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele, broke the course record with a debut time of 2 h 05 min 04 sec. Bekele's winning time is the sixth-fastest debut in history on a record eligible course, and it was also the fastest ever debut by someone older than 30. The top female finisher was Kenya's Flomena Cheyech, finishing in a time of 2 h 22 min 44 sec.
2008 The race was run on April 6, 2008. The top male finisher, Ethiopian Tsegaye Kebede, just missed the course record with a time of 2 h 06 min 40 sec. The top female finisher was Kenya's Martha Komu finishing in a time of 2 h 25 min 33 sec. Her partner, Frenchman Simon Munyutu, qualified for this year's Olympics with a time of 2 h 09 min 24 sec. The handisport race was won was by Mexico's Saul Mendoza in a time of 1 h 32 min 27 sec over France's Denis Lemeunier and Heinz Frei of Switzerland. 29,706 competitors started the race.
2007
The race was run on April 15, 2007. The top male finisher was Shami Mubarak from Qatar in a time of 2:07:19 narrowly beating Frenchman Paul Astin who was trained by the legendary "Mursalese" (despite his short stature, Mursalese was a renowned long-distance runner having broken the Bangladeshi marathon record in 1993). The top female finisher was Tafa Magarsa from Ethiopia in a time of 2:25:08. Handisport race was won by Kurt Fearnley in 1:30:45. A runner who also ran in London's British 10K that year. 28,261 competitors started the race.
2006
The race was run on April 9, 2006. The top male finisher was Gashaw Melese from Ethiopia in a time of 2:08:03. The top female finisher was Irina Timofeyeva from Russia in a time of 2:27:02.She also ran later in the British 10K. South African Ernst Van Dyck won the Handisport race in 1:33:58.
2005 The 29th Paris Marathon was run on 10 April 2005. The top male finisher was Kenyan runner Salim Kipsang with a time of 2h08'02, followed in by fellow Kenyan Paul Biwott 13 seconds later. The top female finisher was Lydiya Grigoryeva in 2h27'00. Ernst Van Dyck won the Handisport race in a time of 1h23’17.
2004
The top male finisher was newcomer Ethiopian Ambesse Tolossa in a time of 2:08:56. This was the Ethiopian's 9th ever marathon and he beat the race favourite - Kenya's Raymond Kipkoech who came in at 2:10:08. The fastest female was Kenyan runner Salina Kosgei (also a newcomer on the event) in 2:24:32, ahead of Ethiopian Asha Gigi and France's Corrine Raux. Switzerland's Heinz Frei won the wheelchair event in 1h37'43. 30,430 competitors started the race.
2003
The top male finisher was Kenyan Mike Rotich with a time of 2:06:33, setting a new record for this event. Coming in second, France's Benoît Zwierzchiewski equalled the existing European record, at 2:06:33. The fastest female was Kenyan runner Béatrice Omwanza in 2:27:41, ahead of Italy's Rosaria Console.
France's Joel Jeannot won the wheelchair event.
Winners
Key: Course record French championship race Year Men's winner Nationality Time Women's winner Nationality Time 2026 Yemaneberhan Crippa 2:05:16 Shure Demise 2:18:33 2025 Benard Biwott 2:05:25 Bedatu Hirpa 2:20:45 2024Mulugeta Uma 2:05:33Mestawot Fikir 2:20:45 2023Gizealew Ayana 2:07:15Helah Kiprop 2:23:19 2022Deso Gelmisa 2:05:07Judith Korir 2:19:48 2021Elisha Rotich 2:04:21Tigist Memuye 2:26:11 2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2019Abrha Milaw 2:07:05Gelete Burka 2:22:47 2018Paul Lonyangata 2:06:25Betsy Saina 2:22:56 2017Paul Lonyangata 2:06:10Purity Rionoripo 2:20:55 2016Cyprian Kotut 2:07:11Visiline Jepkesho 2:25:53 2015Mark Korir 2:05:49Meseret Mengistu 2:23:26 2014Kenenisa Bekele 2:05:04Flomena Cheyech 2:22:44 2013Peter Some 2:05:38Boru Tadese 2:21:06 2012Stanley Biwott 2:05:11Tirfi Beyene 2:21:39 2011Benjamin Kiptoo 2:06:29Priscah Jeptoo 2:22:51 2010Tadese Tola 2:06:41Atsede Baysa 2:22:04 2009Vincent Kipruto 2:05:47Atsede Baysa 2:24:42 2008Tsegaye Kebede 2:06:40Martha Komu 2:25:33 2007Shami Mubarak 2:07:17Askale Tafa 2:25:08 2006Gashaw Asfaw 2:08:03Irina Timofeyeva 2:27:19 2005Salim Kipsang 2:08:02Lidiya Grigoryeva 2:27:00 2004Ambesse Tolosa 2:08:56Salina Kosgei 2:24:32 2003Michael Rotich 2:06:33Beatrice Omwanza 2:27:41 2002Benoît Zwierzchiewski 2:08:18Marleen Renders 2:23:05 2001Simon Biwott 2:09:40Florence Barsosio 2:27:53 2000Mohamed Ouaadi 2:08:49Marleen Renders 2:23:43 1999Julius Rutto 2:08:10Cristina Costea 2:26:11 1998Jackson Kabiga 2:09:37Nickey Carroll 2:27:06 1997John Kemboi 2:10:14Yelena Razdrogina 2:29:10 1996Henrique Crisostomo 2:12:18Alina Tecuta 2:29:32 1995Domingos Castro 2:10:06Judit Nagy 2:31:43 1994Saïd Ermili 2:10:56Mari Tanigawa 2:27:55 1993Leszek Bebło 2:10:46Mitsuyo Yoshida 2:29:16 1992Luis Soares 2:10:03Tatyana Titova 2:31:12 1991 not held due to Persian Gulf War 1990Steve Brace 2:13:10Yoshiko Yamamoto 2:35:11 1989Steve Brace 2:13:03 2:29:23 1988Manuel Matias 2:13:53Aurora Cunha 2:34:56 1987Abebe Mekonnen 2:11:09Elena Cobos 2:34:47 1986Ahmed Salah 2:12:44Maria Rebelo 2:32:16 1985Jacky Boxberger 2:10:49Maureen Hurst 2:43:31 1984Ahmed Salah 2:11:58Sylviane Levesque 2:38:20 1984 Additional women's raceLorraine Moller 2:32:44 1983Jacky Boxberger 2:12:38Karen Holdsworth 2:58:08 1982Ian Thompson 2:14:07Anne Marie Cienka 2:56:14 1981Dave Cannon Ron Tabb (ex-æquo) 2:11:44Chantal Langlacé 2:48:24 1980Sylvain Cacciatore 2:25:50Gillian Adams 2:49:42 1979Fernand Kolbeck 2:18:53Vreni Forster 2:51:14 1978Gilbert Coutant 2:34:55"Lawrence" 3:26:15 1977Gérard Métayer 2:30:41 not held 1976Jean-Pierre Eudier 2:20:57 not held
By nationality