Olympic Champ Josh Kerr Eyes Marathon After Mile Record Bid

Olympic bronze medalist Josh Kerr isn't satisfied with just one world record attempt. The 28-year-old Scottish runner just revealed his dream to win a major marathon someday, proving that elite athletes are shattering the old limits between sprint and endurance events.

Just one week after announcing his plan to break the mile world record in London this summer, Kerr told Runner's World UK about his marathon ambitions. "I want to win a world major marathon," he said, explaining that the 26.2-mile distance offers over two hours of problem-solving compared to his usual three to seven minutes on the track.

The timing couldn't be better. Marathon running has exploded in popularity, with a record 1.1 million people applying for this year's London Marathon in April. Last year's race raised $116 million and saw 56,540 finishers cross the line, setting a world record that only the 2025 New York City Marathon has since broken.

Kerr's versatility isn't unusual anymore. He's following a path blazed by other track stars who've conquered longer distances with stunning success.

Dutch runner Sifan Hassan won the marathon gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics just days after earning bronze medals in both the 5K and 10K. Former 800-meter specialist Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia shattered the women's marathon world record in 2023, running 2:11:53 in Berlin and beating the previous mark by over two minutes.

Even the legendary Eliud Kipchoge started as a world-class 5K runner before becoming the first person to break two hours in the marathon. He won the world championship at 5K in 2003 before claiming two Olympic marathon golds in 2016 and 2021.

Why This Inspires

Kerr's willingness to dream big across multiple distances shows what happens when athletes refuse to be boxed in by traditional expectations. His journey proves that setting one ambitious goal doesn't mean limiting yourself to just that achievement.

At 28, Kerr has plenty of time to pursue both dreams. He'll be 30 for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and 34 for the 2032 Games in Brisbane, giving him years to master the marathon after his mile attempt.

The rise of versatile runners like Kerr is changing what we think possible in human endurance, one ambitious goal at a time.