There are few London sporting events which capture the imagination more than the marathon. First held in 1981, its trailing route through some of London’s best-known locations, plus its set-list of inspiring runners and camaraderie amongst the crowd, secures it a special place in the capital’s calendar.
At its inaugural event, on March 29 1981, which was organised by the athlete and sports journalist Chris Brasher, the London Marathon accepted only 6,747 runners from a total of more than 20,000 applications. Since then, the race has grown in popularity significantly, recording more than 40,000 participants in 2022.
Many of running’s most famous faces have made the trip to London to take part. From Inge Simonsen and Dick Beardsley tying first-place in 1981 to the successes of recent stars such as Eliud Kipchoge, Londoners and visitors have been fortunate to see some of the world’s greatest athletes pounding the city’s pavements.
This year’s London Marathon takes place on Sunday (April 23), and LondonWorld will be reporting live throughout the day - from costumed fundraisers to professional competitors. And follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest photos and videos.
Here, we’ve taken a look back at some of the event’s most special moments over the years.
1. Competitors as they pass the Tower of London during the first London Marathon in 1981.
Credit: Allsport/Getty Images.
2. Dick Beardsley (l) of USA and Inge Simonsen (r) of Norway in action during the first London Marathon in 1981. The two were joint winners as they crossed the line holding hands.
Credit: Tony Duffy/Allsport/Getty Images.
3. The starting line-up of the 1982 London Marathon.
Credit: Steve Powell/Allsport.
4. A pantomime horse runs past the Tower of London during the 1982 London Marathon.
Credit: Allsport UK /Allsport.