Australian wheelchair racing star and NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder Madison de Rozario powered to victory in her debut outing at the Sydney marathon.

The multiple Paralympic and Commonwealth champion led a world class field and dominated her race on an unseasonably hot day in Sydney, crossing the line in one hour 59 minutes 41 seconds.

Widely regarded as one of Australia’s greatest athletes, de Rozario made her Sydney Marathon debut, having previously won the TCS London Marathon (2018 and 2023) and TCS New York City Marathon (2021).
Japanese wheelchair marathon champion and record holder Tsubasa Kina (JPN) followed in second place, with a time of 02:11:41, and Michelle Wheeler (USA) in third, in a time of 02:25:07.
De Rozario departed Milsons Point at 7.08am and crossed the finish line at the Opera House at 9.07am, tackling a 42.195-kilometre course that crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, meandered through Pyrmont, Darling Harbour, The Rocks and Circular Quay, and featured Centennial Park and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

“It shocks you every time you hear your name when you’re out there on the road,” de Rozario told Wide World of Sports.

“[It was] unreal, the crowd was insane and racing at home is unlike anything else.

“Winning in front of an Australian crowd is always incredible.”

It was crucial to the Sydney Marathon’s World Marathon Majors pursuit that de Rozario and the other athletes and participants received enormous crowd support.

If Australia’s premier marathon meets a 104-point criteria this year and next year, it will become the seventh world major in 2025, taking up the prestigious status shared by Boston, Chicago, New York, London, Berlin and Tokyo.

And one of the criteria points pertains to crowd support, with the Sydney Marathon tasked with drawing 100,000 spectators to the streets this year and next year.

Massive crowd numbers and the amazing energy whipped up are key to what makes the majors stand out from other marathons.

“You know what’s funny?” de Rozario added.

“The stakes aren’t as high as they are in a Paralympic or major marathon, but given it’s [in front of] a home crowd it kind of feels a little bit similar because you really want to cross that finish line first.”

Canada’s most successful wheelchair racer, Josh Cassidy (CAN) claimed the top spot in the men’s elite wheelchair marathon, crossing the line in a time of 01:41:52. Cassidy made his Australian debut at Sydney Marathon, having previously won TCS London Marathon (2010), Bank of America Chicago Marathon (2012) and the Boston Marathon (2012).

Othamane El Goumri (MAR) claimed an upset victory in the men’s marathon, taking out first place in a time of 02:08:20 in front of Laban Kipngetich Korir (KEN) in a time of 02:08:43 and third placed Getaneh Molla Tamire in a time of 02:11:22.

In the women’s marathon, Betsy Saina (USA) stormed home in a tight finish, taking out first place in a time of 02:26:47, followed closely by Rahma Tusa Chote (ETH) in a time of 02:26:53. Gladys Chesir Kiptagelai (KEN) was third in a time of 02:28:41.

Australia’s fastest male marathon runner Brett Robinson (Nic Bideay) was Australia’s top placed Australian contender, crossing the finish line in 8th overall, in a time of 02:23:05 claiming the 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian Marathon Championship, while national record holder Sinead Diver (Nic Bideau) claimed the Women’s title, also crossing the finish line in 8th place, in a time of 02:31:27.

Article and image courtesy of Athletics Australia

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