# Rio de Janeiro Marathon

The Rio de Janeiro Marathon is an annual road-based marathon hosted by Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, since 1979. The marathon is a World Athletics Label Road Race and a member of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races.
During the event, a half marathon, a 10K race, and a 5K race are also offered. Runners are also offered the option of completing the Desafio Cidade Maravilhosa ('wonderful city challenge'), in which one runs both the half marathon on Saturday and the marathon on Sunday. In 2022, 1,400 runners successfully completed the challenge.
The Rio de Janeiro Half Marathon [pt] is a separate race that is held in August.

## History

The inaugural marathon was held in 1979. It was organized by Brazilian runner Eleonora Mendonça, who later went on to run in the first Olympic women's marathon in 1984. Mendonça set up the marathon with her company, Printer.
Following the success of the inaugural marathon, the city ended up hosting two marathons during a few years, including in 1980 and 1981, where one was organized by Printer, and the other by Jornal do Brasil.

## Course

The course for the inaugural marathon started and finished in the stadium of the Army Physical Education School [pt].
In 2019, the route of the marathon was changed to begin and end in Flamengo Park.

## Winners

Key:  Course record
| Edition | Year | Men's winner | Time (min:sec) | Women's winner | Time (h:m:s) |
| 1st | 1980 | Greg Meyer (USA) | 2:16:40 | Lorraine Moller (NZL) | 2:39:10 |
| 2nd | 1981 | Bill Rodgers (USA) | 2:14:13 | Lorraine Moller (NZL) | 2:35:56 |
| 3rd | 1982 | Delfim Moreira (POR) | 2:15:57 | Charlotte Teske (GER) | 2:38:42 |
| 4th | 1983 | Lawrence Whitty (AUS) | 2:18:43 | Charlotte Teske (GER) | 2:40:13 |
| 5th | 1984 | Elói Schleder (BRA) | 2:24:35 | Eleonora de Mendonça (BRA) | 2:55:54 |
| 6th | 1985 | Ron Tabb (USA) | 2:16:15 | Patti Catalano (USA) | 2:38:44 |
| 7th | 1986 | Elói Schleder (BRA) | 2:22:02 | Liz Miller (USA) | 2:46:54 |
| 8th | 1987 | Osmiro Silva (BRA) | 2:15:57 | Eliana Reinert (BRA) | 2:51:10 |
| 9th | 1988 | José Carlos Santana (BRA) | 2:23:38 | Nercy da Freitas (BRA) | 2:59:56 |
| 10th | 1989 | José Carlos Santana (BRA) | 2:18:19 | Marinete Quintanilha (BRA) | 2:56:54 |
| 11th | 1990 | José Carlos Santana (BRA) | 2:17:26 | Sônia de Oliveira (BRA) | 2:49:31 |
| 12th | 1991 | João Pacau (BRA) | 2:18:43 | Maria Gomes (BRA) | 2:49:59 |
| – | 1992 | Race was not held | Race was not held | Race was not held | Race was not held |
| 13th | 1993 | João Pacau (BRA) | 2:20:01 | Nercy da Freitas (BRA) | 2:54:04 |
| – | 1994 | Was not held | Was not held | Was not held | Was not held |
| – | 1995 | Was not held | Was not held | Was not held | Was not held |
| 14th | 1996 | Elisvaldo de Carvalho (BRA) | 2:16:55 | Márcia Narloch (BRA) | 2:44:55 |
| 15th | 1997 | Elisvaldo de Carvalho (BRA) | 2:19:39 | Luciene Soares (BRA) | 2:49:34 |
| 16th | 1998 | André Luiz Ramos (BRA) | 2:13:52 | Viviane de Oliveira (BRA) | 2:39:49 |
| 17th | 1999 | Lindemberg Gomes (BRA) | 2:24:28 | Edivânia da Silva (BRA) | 2:50:15 |
| 18th | 2000 | Reginaldo dos Santos (BRA) | 2:18:01 | Rizoneide Vanderlei (BRA) | 2:43:53 |
| – | 2001 | Was not held | Was not held | Was not held | Was not held |
| – | 2002 | Was not held | Was not held | Was not held | Was not held |
| 19th | 2003 | Alex Januário (BRA) | 2:16:39 | Leone Justino (BRA) | 2:46:54 |
| 20th | 2004 | Francisco Armendes (BRA) | 2:20:48 | Raimunda Brito (BRA) | 2:57:36 |
| 21st | 2005 | Cláudio Sebastião Pereira (BRA) | 2:21:18 | Denise Paiva (BRA) | 2:50:01 |
| 22nd | 2006 | José Pereira (BRA) | 2:21:14 | Leone Justino (BRA) | 2:49:58 |
| 23rd | 2007 | Elson Gracioli (BRA) | 2:18:31 | Marily dos Santos (BRA) | 2:42:18 |
| 24th | 2008 | Domingos Nonato (BRA) | 2:17:20 | Iliane Wandscheer (BRA) | 2:49:00 |
| 25th | 2009 | Marcos Antônio Pereira (BRA) | 2:17:11 | Marizete de Paula (BRA) | 2:42:46 |
| 26th | 2010 | Anderson Chirchir (KEN) | 2:19:54 | Sirlene Sousa (BRA) | 2:43:15 |
| 27th | 2011 | Patrick Tambwé (FRA) | 2:18:17 | Kim Kum-ok (PRK) | 2:35:22 |
| 28th | 2012 | Willy Kangogo (KEN) | 2:15:01 | Tabitha Kibet (KEN) | 2:34:41 |
| 29th | 2013 | Giomar da Silva (BRA) | 2:18:02 | Letay Negash (ETH) | 2:40:18 |
| 30th | 2014 | Edmílson dos Reis (BRA) | 2:17:12 | Edna Mukwana (KEN) | 2:40:32 |
| 31st | 2015 | Willy Kangogo (BRA) | 2:14:21 | Caroline Komen (KEN) | 2:37:46 |
| 32nd | 2016 | Elijah Kemboi (KEN) | 2:17:05 | Priscilla Lorchima (KEN) | 2:41:23 |
| 33th | 2017 | Godfrey Kosgei (KEN) | 2:17:41 | Edna Mukwana (KEN) | 2:38:30 |
| 34th | 2018 | Alem Niguse (ETH) | 2:18:41 | Zinash Banetirga (ETH) | 2:41:40 |
| 35th | 2019 | Giovani dos Santos (BRA) | 2:18:48 | Cristiane Alves (BRA) | 2:50:23 |
| 36th | 2021 | Justino Pedro da Silva (BRA) | 2:13:31 | Mirela Saturnino (BRA) | 2:44:51 |
| 37th | 2022 | Justino Pedro da Silva (BRA) | 2:16:02 | Kebebush Yisma (ETH) | 2:34:33 |
| 38th | 2023 | Josphat Kiprotich (KEN) | 2:13:29 | Zinash Debebe (ETH) | 2:36:00 |
| 39th | 2024 | Josphat Kiprotich (KEN) | 2:12:35 | Betelhem Moges (ETH) | 2:39:53 |

### Wins by country

| Country | Men's | Women's | Total |
| Brazil | 26 | 22 | 48 |
| Kenya | 6 | 5 | 11 |
| Ethiopia | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| United States | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Germany | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| New Zealand | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Australia | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| France | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| North Korea | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Portugal | 1 | 0 | 1 |