London Marathon Achieves Equal Prize Money Across All Races

The London Marathon just became one of the fairest races in the world, offering equal prize money across all four elite categories starting in 2024.

Over 50,000 runners will take to the streets of London this Sunday for one of the most prestigious marathons on Earth. But behind the scenes, organizers Spencer Barden and Michelle Weltman have spent the past year building something special: truly equal competition.

The marathon now pays winners the same amount whether they're running or using a wheelchair, male or female. "It's something that I've been passionate about working towards," says Weltman, who heads the para athletes section.

Getting there took creativity and collaboration. Weltman partnered with Boston Marathon organizers to create a challenge offering bonus prize money for athletes competing in both races, which are held just six days apart. The move transformed wheelchair racing from an either-or choice into an exciting double challenge.

London's unique format separates the men's and women's running races by 30 minutes, giving female athletes their own spotlight. The strategy works. In the past two years, runners have broken the women's-only world record twice in London, including Tigst Assefa's stunning 2:15:50 last April.

Wheelchair athletes love the London course for different reasons than other marathons. The technical route with plenty of turns creates pack racing that many prefer over the high-speed downhill sections in Boston and New York. "Everyone wants to come to London," Weltman says. "We always have the most competitive field."

The recruitment process starts almost immediately after each year's race finishes. Barden and his team make calls after fall marathons in Berlin, Chicago and New York to lock in top athletes before January announcements. Some agreements happen years in advance, like Jacob Kiplimo's 2025 debut, sealed with a handshake with his agent years earlier.

This year brings fresh excitement with marathon debuts from world record holders Hellen Obiri and Yomif Kejelcha, an Ethiopian athlete who has set records in everything from the indoor mile to the half marathon.

Why This Inspires

The London Marathon proves that major sporting events can lead on equality without sacrificing excellence. By offering equal prize money and creating innovative partnerships, organizers built the most competitive fields in marathon racing while ensuring every athlete gets fair treatment. When wheelchair champion Marcel Hug nearly broke the world record in 2023, finishing just two seconds short, it showed what happens when athletes feel valued and supported equally.

Fair competition creates better racing for everyone.