Top 5 oldest marathon runners

By Peter Ochieng

It is official that marathon legend, Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge will be among over 20 elite athletes who will take part in this year’s edition of the London marathon, in April.

The two-time Olympic Marathon champion will be seeking to win his 5th London Marathon title, after emerging victorious in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.

The legend will be making his first trip back to London since 2020. He will be aged 40, making him one of the oldest marathoners to line up at the London Marathon.   

That leaves room for us to focus on the top 5 marathoners to have ever taken to the stage around the world.

5. Gladys Burrill

The American took part in the Honolulu Marathon in 2012, aged 92. She finished the race in a time of 9:53:16.

Whereas most athletes start their journeys in their formative years, Gladys Burrill began running in 2004 at the age of 86.

She finished multiple marathons, setting the record for the oldest woman to finish a marathon with her final run in 2012, earning herself the nickname “Gladiator.”

Over the years, she worked as a multi-engine pilot, hiked through deserts, climbed mountains, and rode horses.

Her philosophy in life is to always think positively and to laugh often.

4. Harriette Thompson

Another woman on the list.

The American participated in the Diego Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon 2017, aged 94 years.  

Thompson participated in the San Diego Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon nearly every year since 1999, a tradition she did with her entire family.

She’s beaten cancer twice. Before she got into running at the age of 76, she was a concert pianist.

Thompson passed away in October 2017, after suffering from a fall.

3. Jonathan Mendes

The third American here.

He took part in the New York City Marathon in 2016, aged 96 years.

Mendes is believed to be the oldest unofficial marathon finisher of the New York City Marathon, ever.

2. Dimitrion Yordanidis

The Greece national participated in the Athens Marathon in 1976 aged 98.   

For a very long time, he held the record for the oldest marathon runner in history until the year Indian Fauja Singh displaced him.

A dark cloud surrounded his marathon career, with a fellow runner at the marathon he competed in accusing him of cutting through the race with a car in some parts.

However, no proof was ever brought forward to supplement those claims.

1. Fauja Singh

The Indian holds the record for the oldest marathoner in history. He participated in the Hong Kong Marathon in 2013, aged 102 years.  

Singh first ran in the London Marathon in 2000. He retired after his final marathon in Hong Kong, in 2013.