Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic champion, won the Melbourne Marathon on Sunday in 2 hours, 9 minutes and 10 seconds, setting a record for the race's new course and claiming his first marathon victory in three years. At 41, he finished ahead of Australia's Thomas Do Canto, who was second in 2:10:35, and Reece Edwards, who was third in 2:14:33.

Kipchoge, a former world record-holder, was accompanied until about the 30-kilometre mark by Jimmy Whelan, a former Australian professional cyclist who finished fifth. Kipchoge then raised the pace and pulled away. By his own account, he did so to test whether he could beat the race record, and the plan worked. He took the mark by two seconds, even though he slowed to wave to the crowd on the final half-lap inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the city's historic stadium, and could have finished a few seconds faster. Afterwards he spent more than half an hour celebrating with fans along the boundary fence.

The win was his 17th over the distance. His previous victory came at the 2023 Berlin Marathon, where he claimed a record 11th title at the World Marathon Majors, the series of the sport's most prestigious city races. "I believe that my body is still peaking – still able to compete with the next generation," he said. "The oldest athlete is still competing but I am happy to run with the Gen Zs."

Melbourne is the third stop in Kipchoge's plan to run a marathon on every continent, including Antarctica, over two years. He launched the campaign at the Cape Town Marathon in May. He also finished ninth at the 2025 Sydney Marathon, his first visit to Australia. In Melbourne he did community work and praised the city's sporting culture, noting that it hosted the 1956 Olympics and is home to tennis, cricket and Formula One. "The crowd is so wonderful – I've never seen a crowd like this," he said, adding that he hoped to return to watch some of those events.

In the women's race, New Zealand's Camille French won in 2:28:25. Australia's Sinead Diver was second in 2:28:49, and Nichola Sheridan of Ireland was third in 2:29:13. Australian Seth O'Donnell and New Zealander Georgie Gregec won the half-marathon titles.

Separately, a woman was taken to hospital after being struck by a car near Flinders Street station, about 200 metres from the marathon route, at around 10:45am. Reports suggest police in the area drew their weapons after the erratically driven car hit her, turned around and drove off. Her condition was not known.