London Marathon 2022: previous winners of the London Marathon - from Paula Radcliffe to Eliud Kipchoge

London running enthusiasts are undertaking a final check of their running shoes, setting up their fitness apps and studying the route  as the TCS 2022 London Marathon takes over the capital on October 2 2022.

As road closures and vantage points have been confirmed by London Marathon organisers, all eyes now look at the competitive field and who will be flying the hope of the United Kingdom on their back.

The last time a British runner won the London Marathon was back in 2018 with David Weir winning the men’s wheelchair race, earning back to back victories after his 2017 event.

Many athletics fans will always remember the golden era of the 00s, where Paul Radcliffe collected three victories throughout the decade - crossing the finish line in first in 2002, 2003 and 2005.

The most wins in the London marathon is shared in the men’s race by Dionicio Cerón of Mexico, Portugal’s Antonio Pinto, and Kenya’s Martin Lel with three each, while Norway’s Ingrid Kristiansen holds the women’s record with four marathon wins.

Londonworld takes a comprehensive look at the winners of the London Marathon since its beginnings in 1981, and the men, women and wheelchair athletes who crossed the finish line first.

Who won the London Marathon 2021?

Ethiopian long distance runner Sisay Lemma won the London Marathon 2021 in the men’s event, with a finishing time of 2:04:01. Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya won the women’s race with a time of 2:17:43.

In the wheelchair races, Marcel Hug of Switzerland won the men’s wheelchair race with a time of 1:26:27 - a course record in the men’s wheelchair event.

He was joined by fellow Swiss para-athlete Manuela Schär, who won the London Marathon 2021 women’s wheelchair race with a time of 1:39:52; another course record broken in 2021’s event.

Who won the first London Marathon?

The first men’s race took place in 1981 won by both Dick Beardsley of the United States and Inge Simonsen of Norway, both of whom held hands while crossing the finish line with a time of 2:11:48.

The winner of the first women’s race was Britain’s Joyce Smith, who completed the marathon in 2:29:57.

The first wheelchair marathon race was held in 1983 and the event was credited with reducing the stigma surrounding disabled athletes. Those races were won by Gordon Perry in the men’s race and Denise Smith in the women’s race - both from the United Kingdom.

Details of the winners come courtesy of both the TCS London Marathon website and Britannica.

The full list of London Marathon winners

 Men’s Race

• 1981: Dick Beardsley (USA)/Inge Simonsen (Norway)
• 1982: Hugh Jones (United Kingdom)
• 1983: Mike Gratton (United Kingdom)
• 1984: Charlie Spedding (United Kingdom)
• 1985: Steve Jones (United Kingdom)
• 1986: Toshihiko Seko  (Japan)
• 1987: Hiromi Taniguchi (Japan)
• 1988: Henrik Jørgensen (Denmark)
• 1989: Douglas Wakiihuri (Kenya)
• 1990: Allister Hutton (United Kingdom)
• 1991: Yakov Tolstikov (Soviet Union)
• 1992: António Pinto (Portugal)
• 1993: Eamonn Martin (United Kingdom)
• 1994: Dionicio Cerón (Mexico)
• 1995: Dionicio Cerón (Mexico)
• 1996: Dionicio Cerón (Mexico)
• 1997: António Pinto (Portugal)
• 1998: Abel Antón (Spain)
• 1999: Abdelkader El Mouaziz (Morocco)
• 2000: António Pinto (Portugal)
• 2001: Abdelkader El Mouaziz (Morocco)
• 2002: Khalid Khannouchi (United States)
• 2003: Gezahegne Abera (Ethiopia)
• 2004: Evans Rutto (Kenya)
• 2005: Martin Lel (Kenya)
• 2006: Felix Limo (Kenya)
• 2007: Martin Lel (Kenya)
• 2008: Martin Lel (Kenya)
• 2009: Samuel Wanjiru (Kenya)
• 2010: Tsegaye Kebede (Ethiopia)
• 2011: Emmanuel Kipchirchir Mutai (Kenya)
• 2012: Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich (Kenya)
• 2013: Tsegaye Kebede (Ethiopia)
• 2014: Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich (Kenya)
• 2015: Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya)
• 2016: Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya)
• 2017: Daniel Wanjiru (Kenya)
• 2018: Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya)
• 2019: Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya)
• 2020: Shura Kitata Tola (Ethiopia)
• 2021: Sisay Lemma (Ethiopia)

Women’s Race

• 1981: Joyce Smith (United Kingdom)
• 1982: Joyce Smith (United Kingdom)
• 1983: Grete Waitz (Norway)
• 1984: Ingrid Kristiansen (Norway)
• 1985: Ingrid Kristiansen (Norway)
• 1986: Grete Waitz (Norway)
• 1987: Ingrid Kristiansen (Norway)
• 1988: Ingrid Kristiansen (Norway)
• 1989: Véronique Marot (United Kingdom)
• 1990: Wanda Panfil (Poland)
• 1991: Rosa Mota (Portugal)
• 1992: Katrin Dörre-Heinig (Germany)
• 1993: Katrin Dörre-Heinig (Germany)
• 1994: Katrin Dörre-Heinig (Germany)
• 1995: Małgorzata Sobańska (Poland)
• 1996: Liz McColgan (United Kingdom)
• 1997: Joyce Chepchumba (Kenya)
• 1998: Catherina McKiernan (Ireland)
• 1999: Joyce Chepchumba (Kenya)
• 2000: Tegla Loroupe (Kenya)
• 2001: Derartu Tulu (Ethiopia)
• 2002: Paula Radcliffe (United Kingdom)
• 2003: Paula Radcliffe (United Kingdom)
• 2004: Margaret Okayo (Kenya)
• 2005: Paula Radcliffe (United Kingdom)
• 2006: Deena Kastor (United States)
• 2007: Zhou Chunxiu (China)
• 2008: Irina Mikitenko (Germany)
• 2009: Irina Mikitenko (Germany)
• 2010: Aselefech Mergia (Ethiopia)
• 2011: Mary Jepkosgei Keitany (Kenya)
• 2012: Mary Jepkosgei Keitany (Kenya)
• 2013: Priscah Jeptoo (Kenya)
• 2014: Edna Kiplagat (Kenya)
• 2015: Tigist Tufa (Ethiopia)
• 2016: Jemima Sumgong (Kenya)
• 2017: Mary Jepkosgei Keitany (Kenya)
• 2018: Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya)
• 2019: Brigid Kosgei (Kenya)
• 2020: Brigid Kosgei (Kenya)
• 2021: Joyciline Jepkosgei (Kenya)

Men’s wheelchair race

• 1983: Gordon Perry (United Kingdom)
• 1984: Kevin Breen (Ireland)
• 1985: Chris Hallam (United Kingdom)
• 1986: Gerry O’Rourke (Ireland)
• 1987: Chris Hallam (United Kingdom)
• 1988: Ted Vince (Canada)
• 1989: David Holding (United Kingdom)
• 1990: Håkan Ericsson (Sweden)
• 1991: Farid Amarouche (France)
• 1992: Daniel Wesley (Canada)
• 1993: George Vandamme (Belgium)
• 1994: David Holding (United Kingdom)
• 1995: Heinz Frei (Switzerland)
• 1996: David Holding (United Kingdom)
• 1997: David Holding (United Kingdom)
• 1998: Heinz Frei (Switzerland)
• 1999: Heinz Frei (Switzerland)
• 2000: Kevin Papworth (United Kingdom)
• 2001: Denis Lemeunier (France)
• 2002: David Weir (United Kingdom)
• 2003: Joël Jeannot (France)
• 2004: Saúl Mendoza (Mexico)
• 2005: Saúl Mendoza (Mexico)
• 2006: David Weir (United Kingdom)
• 2007: David Weir (United Kingdom)
• 2008: David Weir (United Kingdom)
• 2009: Kurt Fearnley (Australia)
• 2010: Josh Cassidy (Canada)
• 2011: David Weir (United Kingdom)
• 2012: David Weir (United Kingdom)
• 2013: Kurt Fearnley (Australia)
• 2014: Marcel Hug (Switzerland)
• 2015: Josh George (United States)
• 2016: Marcel Hug (Switzerland)
• 2017: David Weir (United Kingdom)
• 2018: David Weir (United Kingdom)
• 2019: Daniel Romanchuk (United States)
• 2020: Brent Lakatos (Canada)
• 2021: Marcel Hug (Switzerland)

Women’s wheelchair race

• 1983: Denise Smith (United Kingdom)
• 1984: Kay McShane (Ireland)
• 1985: Kay McShane (Ireland)
• 1986: Kay McShane (Ireland)
• 1987: Karen Davidson (United Kingdom)
• 1988: Karen Davidson (United Kingdom)
• 1989: Josie Cichockyj (United Kingdom)
• 1990: Connie Hansen (Denmark)
• 1991: Connie Hansen (Denmark)
• 1992: Tanni Grey-Thompson (United Kingdom)
• 1993: Rose Hill (United Kingdom)
• 1994: Tanni Grey-Thompson (United Kingdom)
• 1995: Rose Hill (United Kingdom)
• 1996: Tanni Grey-Thompson (United Kingdom)
• 1997: Monica Wetterström (Sweden)
• 1998: Tanni Grey-Thompson (United Kingdom)
• 1999: Monica Wetterström (Sweden)
• 2000: Sarah Piercy (United Kingdom)
• 2001: Tanni Grey-Thompson (United Kingdom)
• 2002: Tanni Grey-Thompson (United Kingdom)
• 2003: Francesca Porcellato (Italy)
• 2004: Francesca Porcellato (Italy)
• 2005: Francesca Porcellato (Italy)
• 2006: Francesca Porcellato (Italy)
• 2007: Shelly Woods (United Kingdom)
• 2008: Sandra Graf (Switzerland)
• 2009: Amanda McGrory (United States)
• 2010: Wakako Tsuchida (Japan)
• 2011: Amanda McGrory (United States)
• 2012: Shelly Woods (United Kingdom)
• 2013: Tatyana McFadden (United States)
• 2014: Tatyana McFadden (United States)
• 2015: Tatyana McFadden (United States)
• 2016: Tatyana McFadden (United States)
• 2017: Manuela Schär (Switzerland)
• 2018: Madison de Rozario (Australia)
• 2019: Manuela Schär (Switzerland)
• 2020: Nikita den Boer (Netherlands)
• 2021: Manuela Schär (Switzerland)

When is the London Marathon 2022?

The TCS London Marathon 2022 will take place on Sunday, October 2, with start waves taking place from 08:50 (elite wheelchair men’s and women’s races), 09:00 (elite women’s race) and 09:40 (elite men’s race and mass start.)