It was a Six-Star medal a long time within the making—however one which former ladies’s marathon world report holder Paula Radcliffe lastly achieved. On the 2025 Boston Marathon, the 51-year-old accomplished the race in 2:53:44, changing into simply the sixth individual to run all six Abbott World Marathon Majors, plus a marathon on the World Championships and the Olympics.
Radcliffe, who held the ladies’s marathon world report for 16 years, from 2003 to 2019, with a time of two:15:25, completed Monday’s race on prime of the rostrum within the ladies’s 50–54 age class.
The seven-time Abbott World Marathon Majors champion joins an unique membership of six athletes to perform the feat. The one different runners to attain it are Edna Kiplagat (KEN), Deena Kastor (USA), Aly Dixon (GBR), Nuta Olaru (ROU) and Emmanuel Mutai (KEN).
In a social media submit, Radcliffe mirrored on the achievement: “Wow, thanks, Boston. […] The ache was so value it for that @wmmajors six star, particularly getting one from considered one of my largest idols in Joanie [Joan Benoit Samuelson]! “That’s me signing out on the roads now,” she continued. “Lesson discovered—that my physique is completed with that.”
Radcliffe is probably the most embellished British feminine marathoner in historical past, having gained the London and New York Marathons thrice every, plus the Chicago Marathon as soon as, in 2002.
Earlier than Boston, Radcliffe ran the 2025 Tokyo Marathon in 2:57:26 in early March, checking off considered one of her two remaining stars. Earlier to this yr, Radcliffe had not run a marathon for the reason that 2015 London Marathon, the place she ran 2:36:55 to win her W40–44 age class and the masters division.
Radcliffe will now go from course to sideline assist, as she revealed she’ll be heading to London this weekend to cheer on her daughter Isla, 18, who’s making her marathon debut on the 2025 TCS London Marathon. Isla can be working for charity, elevating funds for Kids with Most cancers UK, which supported the household after she was recognized with most cancers at age 13.