The 2023 Tokyo Marathon set a new Guinness World Records title for the most people to earn a Six Star medal at a single marathon, on Sunday, March 5, in Tokyo.
Six Star Finishers are recognised for completing all six of the Abbott World Marathon Majors in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.
3,033 runners completed the race to earn their Six Star Medal, smashing the previous highest total set in Tokyo in 2019 of 732, and establishing the first official world record for the Six Star program. Among them, 40 runners were completing the journey for a second time; five for a third and one runner was going round the series for an incredible fourth time.
Many of the runners participating in the record had waited for this moment since first earning a place in the 2020 race, which was reduced to an elite only field as the COVID-19 pandemic emerged to curtail international travel and mass participation events all over the world.
Runners continued to wait through 2021 and 2022 before travel restrictions for Japan were relaxed to allow overseas visitors to enter the country.
It resulted in a major spike in Six Star Finisher numbers for the 2023 race and a landmark day in the Japanese capital.
The influx of new members of the Six Star Hall of Fame means the total on record has now surpassed 11,000 runners.
Dawna Stone, CEO of Abbott World Marathon Majors, said “What a day we had at the 2023 Tokyo Marathon – celebrating more than 3,000 runners completing their Six Star journey and setting a new Guinness World Record in the process. It was incredibly emotional for all who were involved, and I am so happy for everyone who can now say they are part of a world record.”
www.Abbottwmm.com
www.guinnessworldrecords.com
