WATCH: Prime Minister Mark Carney Shows Up Trackside at Ottawa Marathon To Cheer On Runners

In an unmistakably Canadian moment during Sunday’s Ottawa Marathon, Prime Minister Mark Carney was spotted on the sidelines near Rideau Hall, casually cheering on runners as they passed the halfway mark.

Carney, a longtime running enthusiast, appeared in street clothes and his classic Tracksmith sneakers, waving to athletes and even catching the race broadcast camera.

Among those he greeted: eventual men’s winner Albert Korir, top Canadian Rory Linkletter, and the elite lead pack. Commentator Arash Madani, spotting the Prime Minister mid-wave, remarked: “Only in Canada.”

The moment stood out not just for its spontaneity, but for the Prime Minister’s authentic presence. Unlike the usual highly curated appearances, there was no formal announcement, no entourage. Just the country’s leader watching a road race like any other fan.

But Carney isn’t just a spectator. He’s run the Ottawa Half-Marathon himself, clocking 1:40:01 in 2013, and finished the 2015 London Marathon in 3:31:35, the only sitting Canadian Prime Minister to have completed one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors.

His support extended beyond Sunday’s marathon. On Saturday evening, he was seen cheering from the side of the Pretoria Bridge during the 10K, where his wife was reportedly competing.

While Carney’s appearance grabbed attention, the weekend also delivered standout performances on the course.

On Saturday, Charles Philibert-Thiboutot broke the Canadian 10K record with a time of 28:06, shaving three seconds off the previous mark set by Ben Flanagan in 2024. Philibert-Thiboutot led a strong men’s field that included Cam Levins (28:14) and Andrew Alexander (28:17).

Gracelyn Larkin won the women’s 10K in 32:42, passing Malindi Elmore in the final kilometers. Elmore, the defending champion, finished second in 33:01.

On Sunday, Kenya’s Albert Korir, the 2021 NYC Marathon champion, took the marathon title. Canada’s Rory Linkletter placed second and was the top Canadian. Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe also ran the marathon for the second year in a row.

More than 36,000 runners took part in this year’s Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, now in its 40th year. But it was a wave from a Tracksmith-wearing Prime Minister that many runners will remember most.