Belgrade Marathon

The origins of marathon culture in Belgrade trace back to 2 May 1910, when "Velika pešačka utakmica" (eng. "The Great Walking Race") took place from Obrenovac to Belgrade, with finishing line being in Košutnjak.^[1] Out of 97 participants, a bookstore owner Aleksandar Popović crossed the finishing line first and became a race winner.^[1]

The first modern marathon in Belgrade took place on 8 May 1988.^[2] It was 23 km (14 mi) long, and only Yugoslavian athletes participated.^[3] The track length of the 1989 marathon was 46.7 km (29.0 mi), with the start and finish being in front of the Federal Parliament Building.

Since 1990, the Belgrade Marathon has a standard 42.195 km (26.219 mi) length. The 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia did not prevent the marathon from taking place that year, and on April 17 the race was held as a metered group run.^[4] About 40 runners from nine countries crossed the finish line at 3 hours 15 minutes and 16 seconds. The runners from NATO countries were Seine Brenson from the US, and Michael Turzynski and Heinz Lorber from Germany. The latter two are also founding members of the German 100 Marathon Club.

The JSD Partizan took it upon itself to organize the marathon. The City of Belgrade, its departments and communal services helped organize the event. Also involved were the executive bodies of city government, the Serbian Armed Forces, the Police of Serbia, and a number of sponsors. In September 2003, Belgrade declared that the Marathon is an event of special importance for the city. The same organisers also arrange the Belgrade Race through History, a race around the Belgrade Fortress, which started in 1996.^[5]

In 2020, the race was initially postponed to 18 October 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.^[6] However, the marathon was eventually cancelled after the organizers were unable to secure approval to hold the marathon with coronavirus controls in place.^[7][8] In 2022 edition, there were 668 finishers (105 women's and 563 men's) from 41 countries.^[9] In 2023, the record number of 10,000 participants and 885 marathon finishers ran the Belgrade Marathon. In 2024, that number increased to 13,000 participants and 1,264 marathon finishers.^[10]

In addition to the marathon, the event also holds three other races:

• The half marathon is a half distance marathon (21.1 km) that is in accordance with world standards
• The half marathon relay;
• The 10K run.

Also, the event also holds two friendly enjoyment races:

• The fun run is a 2.3 km event;
• The kids marathon is a race for children, typically held week before the main events.

• 
  Serbian politicians Aleksandar Šapić, Boris Tadić, and Božidar Đelić during the 25th Belgrade Marathon in 2012
• 
  2022 shirt and medal
• 
  2021 shirt and medal
• 
  2020 shirt and medal (Virtuel marathon)
• 
  2019 shirt and medal
• 
  Finisher medal in 2019
• 
  2022 Dm women's run shirt and medal
• 
  The men's race in 2006 edition
• 
  William Kwambai Kipchumba topped the podium in 2008 edition
• 
  Start line in 2014 edition
• 
  Medal from 2019 to 2024

Winners of 30th Belgrade Marathon (2017)

Stephen Katam from Kenya

Olivera Jevtić from Serbia

Winners of 29th Belgrade Marathon (2016)

Abel Kibet Rop (blue jersey) from Kenya

Stella Barsosio Jeptenegich from Ethiopia