Ruth Chepngetich is headed to the 2025 London Marathon, and the buzz around her couldn’t be louder—or more divided. The Kenyan marathon star lit the running world on fire last year when she became the first woman to shatter the 2:10 barrier at the Chicago Marathon, clocking an almost unbelievable 2:09:56.
While her achievement was celebrated as a groundbreaking moment for women’s marathon running, it also sparked equally as much (and maybe even more) controversy. Now, Chepngetich is bringing the weight of her divisive Chicago performance to London, a course where history is always up for grabs, to see if she can once again rewrite history.
Our editors break down each side of the Chepngetich controversy:
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The London Marathon is one of the most iconic marathons in the world, and this year, it’s shaping up to be an epic showdown. Joining Chepngetich on the start line will be some of the best runners in the world, including defending champion Peres Jepchirchir, who set the women-only world record (2:16:16) at last year’s London Marathon, and Sifan Hassan, the Olympic gold medalist who’s proven she can dominate on any stage.
For Chepngetich, the goal is clear: push herself—and maybe even push the limits of what’s possible.
“London Marathon always brings together the best athletes in the world…Myself, Peres, and the other women are strong, so it will be a competitive one,” she said to Reuters. “I want to prepare as best as I can, and we will see if we can lower Peres’s world record of 2:16:16 from last year. With the strength of the field, I think we can support each other, and maybe the world record will fall. I didn’t know [setting the world record in Chicago] was possible, but I came to realize that dreams can come true.”
The London Marathon course has seen its fair share of history, and Chepngetich will no doubt want to prove that her world record in Chicago wasn’t just a one-off. With a stacked field and ideal conditions (London weather permitting, of course), this year’s event could be one for the books. If Chepngetich can find some consistency to bring to London, who knows what might happen?
So, mark your calendar for April 27. Whether you’re a die-hard running fan or just someone who loves a good story, Ruth Chepngetich taking to the start in London is one you won’t want to miss.
