Marathon ceases to be a World Athletics event and now has its own competition

Domingos Castro sees “opportunity”

DN contacted Domingos Castro, president of the Portuguese Athletics Federation, who found out, as soon as he heard the news, what the goals for the sport could be. To DN, he left the guarantee that the “first three or four years will be in Athens”, and raised the possibility that from 2031 onwards, other events, such as the march, would be held in another city. “From my point of view, this is a strategy to open up the population, suddenly the common citizen can start to be at a World Cup”, he highlights, remembering that at an Athletics World Cup it is impossible to open registrations for amateur athletes.

“The New York Marathon reaches 65 thousand people, we are talking here about registrations, exposure, which is not comparable to the format of the World Cup used until now”explains the president elected in 2024, considering that it is an “opportunity” for both amateurs and professionals. “More emphasis will be given to the event, there will be opportunities for athletes who usually favor marathons other than the World Cup”, he says, acknowledging that there may be “payments to athletes to attract big names.”

Domingos Castro even considers that the transfer to the “month of March”, instead of taking place in September or August, could be positive. “If it’s this month, it’s more suitable for our athletes, who will prepare for the races in less heat”, says the former athlete, participant in almost two dozen cross-country world championships, four Olympic Games and a silver medalist at the 1987 World Championships, in Rome, in the 5000 meters.

The absence of major figures in the World Athletics Marathon is due, as we know, to huge prizes for participating in events such as Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Paris, Rotterdam, Rome or Beijing, in addition to the existence of its own competition, the World Marathon Majors, which brings together the various results of the year, in which the World Championship race is just one of at least seven per year.

The president of the Portuguese Athletics Federation highlights that today there is a “big focus on the middle and long distance”, stressing that in Portugal there is “a lot of support so that athletes do not lack conditions and infrastructure”.

Looking specifically at Portuguese tradition, remember that at the Olympic Games Carlos Lopes and Rosa Mota achieved gold in the marathon, in 1984 and 1988, respectively. Carlos Lopes, in 1976, obtained silver. Rosa Mota, in 1984, had bronze in the marathon.

In World Championships, Rosa Mota and Manuela Machado won gold in 1987 and 1995 in the marathon – and Inês Henriques, in 2017, in the 50 km walk. Manuela Machado’s silver medals in the 1993 marathon and João Vieira’s silver medals in the 50 km race in 2019 can also be added. Among the road races that were part of the athletics world championships, there is also the record of João Vieira’s bronze in 2013 in the 20 km race; Susana Feitor had the same result over the same distance, but in 2005.