London Marathon fury as thousands of runners fear they could miss out on finishers’ medals after organisers changed the rules

March 28, 2025

London Marathon organisers have moved to allay fears that participants could end this year’s race without a finishers’ medal following a change to the rules.

The sight of volunteers handing out gongs to weary runners at the conclusion of the gruelling 26-mile course has become a staple of the event since its inception in 1981.

But a change to the entry process has caused uproar among some competitors after they were required to opt in for the receipt of a medal when registering for the race. Many appear to have missed the rule change, while others claim to have opted in only to receive a bib marked ‘no medal’. The issue has also affected people planning to run in the Brighton Marathon, which will likewise be staged next month. Daily Mail