The TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS is proud to announce a world-class field of elite wheelchair athletes for its historic 2025 edition, taking place on Sunday, 31 August.

Marking the event’s first year as an Abbott World Marathon Major (AbbottWMM), this year’s race will bring together the fastest and most decorated wheelchair racers from across the globe to compete on one of the sport’s most prestigious new stages.

Leading the charge in the men’s field is Marcel Hug (SUI), the most decorated men’s wheelchair marathoner of all time. Nicknamed the “Silver Bullet” for his trademark helmet and unrelenting pace, Hug is the current world record-holder 1:17:47, a seven-time Paralympic gold medallist and the only male athlete in history to win all six AbbottWMM in a single year (2023).

With an extraordinary 37 AbbottWMM titles, Hug’s dominance on the global stage has cemented his status as the sport’s undisputed GOAT.

Challenging Hug is one of the most accomplished men’s wheelchair marathon fields ever assembled in Australia. Tomoki Suzuki (JPN) a Paralympic bronze medallist, is widely regarded as the next dominant force in men’s wheelchair racing. Touted as the natural successor to Hug, Suzuki’s rapid rise has marked him as a future global champion.

He will be joined by a strong contingent of countrymen including 2024 runner-up Sho Watanabe (JPN) and third-placed Kota Hokinoue (JPN), making Japan one of the most competitive nations in this year’s men's field.

Josh Cassidy (CAN) returns looking to defend his crown, as the two-time reigning TCS Sydney Marathon champion. A three-time Paralympian, Cassidy made history with his 2012 win at the Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America, clocking a blistering 1:18:25, the fastest time ever recorded at the time, and still the third fastest time in history.

The depth of talent continues with an exceptional lineup that includes Paralympic gold medallist and six-time Major winner Daniel Romanchuk (USA); eight-time TCS London Marathon winner David Weir (GBR), distinguished racer Geert Schipper (NED) and seasoned contenders Aaron Pike (USA) and JohnBoy Smith (GBR).

Rounding out the lineup are top locals Jake Lappin (AUS) and Sam Rizzo (AUS), both aiming to deliver strong performances in front of a home crowd.

Acting NSW Minister for Sport and Minister for Disability Inclusion Kate Washington said the return of world-class athletes to Sydney reflects the city’s standing on the global stage: “This year marks the first time the TCS Sydney Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors and it’s a defining moment for our state.

“The strength of this year’s wheelchair field shows what’s possible when we make sport more inclusive and accessible at every level.

“Hosting the world’s best on Sydney’s streets not only cements our city’s place on the global stage, it also inspires Australians of all abilities to chase big goals, break barriers, and take pride in being part of something extraordinary.”

The female field showcases an elite roster of international talent, led by Susannah Scaroni (USA) the top seed and reigning Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America champion.

Scaroni is one of the most dominant athletes in the sport today, holding a personal best of 1:27:31, the fastest time in this year’s women’s field. A Paralympic gold medallist, she is known for her explosive power, aggressive race strategy and consistent AbbottWMM performances, including wins in Boston, Chicago and New York. Scaroni will arrive in Sydney as the athlete to beat.

She’ll be joined by Swiss star Manuela Schär (SUI), a three-time AbbottWMM Series champion, Paralympic medallist, and former world record-holder. Schär made history by becoming the first athlete, male or female, wheelchair or able-bodied, to win all six AbbottWMM races in a single series, completing a clean sweep from Berlin 2018 to Berlin 2019. With 22 AbbottWMM victories, Schär remains one of the most respected and accomplished athletes in women’s wheelchair racing.

Rounding out the formidable field are Samantha Kinghorn (GBR), a Scottish star and the fastest female British wheelchair athlete in history over all distances from 100m to 800m and Eden Rainbow-Cooper (GBR), the first British woman to win the Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America.

Adding further depth are returning contenders Yen Hoang (USA), who finished third in 2024, Michelle Wheeler (USA), along with Wakako Takahashi (JPN), Vanessa De Sousa (BRA), Linden William (USA), Tsubasa Nakamine (JPN), and Patricia Eachus (SUI). With Sydney joining the AbbottWMM series in 2025, both Marcel Hug (SUI) and Manuela Schär (SUI) have the rare opportunity to make history.

A win in Sydney would make either athlete the first ever across all classifications to win all seven AbbottWMM.

For Hug, it’s a chance to extend his legacy as the sport’s most decorated male athlete. For Schär, it would mark another milestone in a glittering career that has helped redefine women’s wheelchair racing.

Their appearances add enormous historic significance to Sydney’s debut as an AbbottWMM, and offer Australian fans the rare opportunity to witness two of the sport’s greatest athletes chasing an unprecedented seventh star.

TCS Sydney Marathon Race Director Wayne Larden said the calibre of this year’s wheelchair field reflects the global significance of Sydney’s debut as an AbbottWMM: "This year’s wheelchair field is not only the strongest in our event’s history, it’s one of the most competitive anywhere in the world. As we prepare to deliver our first Abbott World Marathon Majors, we’re extremely excited to be hosting this incredible lineup of the world's greatest wheelchair athletes."

Jane Flemming OAM, President of Australian Athletics, said the world class international field marks a defining moment for para sport in Australia: “The calibre of this year’s wheelchair field is extraordinary. To have global icons like Marcel Hug and Manuela Schär racing in Australia alongside our own rising stars of the wheelchair marathon such as Samuel Rizzo, shows the incredible evolution of the TCS Sydney Marathon.

"This isn’t just a race, it’s a defining moment for the event, and a milestone moment for para sport in this country.”

The TCS Sydney Marathon is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The event is owned by Athletics Australia and managed by Pont3.