‘An absolute hero! What strength of character, grit and determination’
The last runner to finish the London Marathon on Sunday crossed the line to rapturous applause from the crowd.
More than 48,000 runners took part in the 26.2 mile race from Greenwich to The Mall – 7,357 more than last year (40,643) – in what organisers said was the biggest ever.
And, according to The Mirror 45 Guinness World Records were broken, including by Radio 1 DJ Adele Roberts who became the fastest woman to complete a marathon with a stoma bag.
It was a day of high-drama, with winner Kelvin Kiptum setting a record for the fastest time ever done at the competition with 02:01:25. The 23-year-old’s time was just 16-seconds behind Eliud Kipchoge’s world record marathon time. Kiptum knocked one minute and 12 seconds off Kipchoge’s previous course record to beat second-placed compatriot Geoffrey Kamworor by almost three minutes.
But far from the podium, the final runner crossed the line in what appeared to be a gruelling effort and received an enthusiastic welcome from the crowds.
His name or time has not been revealed, but last year, according to a report by The Mirror, the final finisher crossed the line in 11:20:56. Five runners took more than 10 hours.
The official London Marathon account shared a video of the final finisher writing: “One of the greatest moments of every London Marathon – your 2023 final finisher. We’re in awe of your determination to finish what you started.”
By Monday morning, the video had been viewed almost 320,000 times.
One person wrote under the post: “An absolute hero! What strength of character, grit and determination! Phenomenal.”
Another person added: “Well done to this guy. He wasn’t last, he beat everyone who has never managed to run a marathon- including me. Hats off to him!”
Several people in the comments section posted a JustGiving link they said belonged to the runner.
On Monday morning it surpassed its fundraising goal of £2,500, with £2,906 being donated.
An introduction on the page by Tom Durnin reads: “Here we go, I have taken the challenge of the London Marathon 2023 raising vital funds for The Bone Cancer Research Trust through Freddies Future Please click the link or copy and paste to read Freddies.
“I am in full training now and pushing myself through every session trying to get as fit as I can, which is not normally my thing I will be honest. Please donate no matter how big or small, every £1 makes a difference.”
In the men’s race the first Brit to cross the finish line wasn’t Mo Farah – who came in ninth with a time of 2:10.27 – but Emile Cairess, from Yorkshire who finished in sixth place.
Sifan Hassan also produced a remarkable run to win the women’s race in a time of 2 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds. The 30-year-old Dutch Olympic track champion battled a hip injury to win on her debut at the distance.
Related links:
Radio 1 DJ Adele Roberts becomes fastest woman to run London Marathon with stoma bag
London marathon runner legs it at start to outpace professional athletes
