Shanghai Marathon sees new event records set as it chases major dream

Over 23,000 runners embarked from the Bund on the morning of Nov 30, experiencing Shanghai’s vibrant atmosphere along a 42.195-kilometer course. As China’s only World Athletics Platinum Label event and a World Marathon Majors candidate, this year’s Shanghai Marathon set a new course record.

Ethiopian runner Miklesa Mengesha finished first with a time of 2:06:25. Chinese runner Feng Peiyou claimed the national men’s title with 2:08:36, breaking the domestic men’s course record.

“As a Platinum Label event, the Shanghai Marathon attracts top-tier athletes, making it ideal for achieving good results. The participation of international runners pushes Chinese athletes to perform better,” Feng said.

Kenyan elite Brigid Kosgei won the women’s title with a remarkable 2:16:36, setting the fastest women’s marathon time ever recorded in China.

“I’m thrilled to have improved my best time this year. Thanks to everyone who cheered me on,” Kosgei said. Regarding the marathon majors bid, Kosgei said she hopes Shanghai becomes part of the world majors, adding: “I’d love to compete here again.”

Chinese runner Zhang Deshun secured her fourth consecutive national women’s title, setting a new fastest time for Chinese women in the race.

Wheelchair racing saw significant upgrades, expanding to 19 athletes this year, with 12 top international competitors. Luo Xingchuan, a prominent Chinese wheelchair athlete, remarked, “I aim to achieve good results to attract more international runners to this sport.”

The race aligned with world-class standards, meeting marathon majors’ evaluation criteria and setting a pre-registration record of 356,589 applicants, earning global recognition.

German runner Felix Raab, who achieved a personal best, praised the event after the race. “It’s a fantastic race with great service — volunteers are helpful and inspiring,” he said.

First-time visitor Toni Janka was impressed by the race’s integration with the city. “Shanghai is beautiful, and the people are incredibly friendly. The course is fast and offers a view of the city. It’s a world-class marathon,” he told China Daily after the race.

He noted that he came specifically because of the race’s marathon majors’ candidate status, calling the trip “worthwhile”.

The Shanghai Marathon as well as other sports events have become hot topics in the city in recent years and the city has seen a growing vibe of sports.

The Shanghai sports industry generated an output of 316.9 billion yuan ($44.8 billion), with an added value exceeding 100 billion yuan, accounting for 1.9 percent of the city’s GDP in 2024, according to data released at the 2025 Shanghai Sports Show, a three-day event at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center in November.

The expo showcased robust growth in sports consumption, with upgrades across events, fitness, equipment, and technology. During the consumption festival from May to Nov, local sports merchants experienced a 13.89 percent year-on-year transaction increase.

Twenty innovative projects and scenario-based consumption practices demonstrated industry significance. Further, events such as the Rolex Shanghai Masters and Volvo China Open stood out as typical cases of the 2025 Shanghai Sports Consumption Festival.

A special “Shanghai Marathon Zone” in the expo offered runners one-stop equipment services and an immersive experience area showcasing the marathon’s history and culture.

Contact the writers at heqi@chinadaily.com.cn