Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2024 draws over 55,000 participants from around the world for marquee race weekend

December 4, 2024

- Over 55,000 runners from around the globe gathered in Singapore for the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2024. Held over three days, the event featured five race categories, including the return of the Ekiden relay - Close to 13,000 international runners from 84 countries registered for this year’s run – marking a nearly 33% increase compared to 2023 - Soh Rui Yong and Rachel See emerged victorious as the men’s and women’s champions in the Marathon category. In the Half Marathon, Shaun Goh and Vanessa Lee crossed the finish line first in their respective divisions.

SINGAPORE/Tampa, FLA. (4 December 2024) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) 2024 concluded the weekend with record participation, a new finish line and refreshed routes, setting new benchmarks for endurance races in the region. As Asia’s only World Athletics Gold Label race, SCSM 2024 saw over 55,000 runners taking to the streets to take part in the races, with journeys culminating at the historic Anderson Bridge. This year’s turnout included close to 13,000 international participants from 84 countries, surpassing 2023’s numbers and further strengthening SCSM’s global presence.

The sea of SCSM’s iconic green and blue running singlets saw runners across all categories transform the city into a lively celebration of athleticism, embodying the camaraderie of running. The half marathon’s route offered a perfect balance between challenge and achievability, providing a rewarding experience for both seasoned and first-time runners. Marathon participants faced the ultimate endurance test with a course that combined a robust and challenging run with stunning cityscapes and an electric atmosphere, bringing forth the SCSM spirit that encouraged runners to ‘Go Beyond’ and push their limits.

The Ekiden race, a celebration of teamwork and camaraderie, made a welcome return at this year’s race. The group relay took participants past some of Singapore’s most recognisable landmarks including Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay and East Coast Park, among others. With four changeover zones and a spectacular finish at the historic Anderson Bridge, the race allowed spectators to experience the excitement of team-based competition, as participants shared the journey to cover the marathon distance with their teammates.

Gold Label Elite Marathon: A Triumph of Grit and Endurance

In the Gold Label Elite Marathon, Geoffrey Yegon from Kenya claimed victory in the men’s category with a time of 02.16.06.

Celebrating his victory, Geoffrey shared, “It feels very good to win. It’s my first time in Singapore and competing here. Coming from Kenya, the Singapore race was always ‘wow’ so have been wanting to come here. Singapore is very nice, but it is very hot, so I trained very hard in Kenya to try to win the race.”

In the women’s category, Fantu Zewude Jifar from Ethiopia emerged as the champion with a time of 02.39.04.

Fantu kept it short and sweet sharing, “Happy to have won, Singapore is a beautiful country to race in. I’m not sure what I’ll do with the prize money, but I know I can’t wait to come back to Singapore.”

Mr Patrick Lee, CEO, Singapore and ASEAN, Standard Chartered, added, “At Standard Chartered, we are proud to support an event that not only celebrates extraordinary talent and determination but also brings together people from all walks of life. This year’s marathon exemplifies the spirit of inclusivity, with elite runners, national champions, as well as everyday runners, individuals of different abilities, their caregivers, and our employee volunteers participating as one community. All these runners embody strength, focus, and resilience—qualities we hold dear and are thrilled to celebrate at this year’s marathon.

“This year, we’ve also raised funds for our Futuremakers programme, which will help to empower young people with the skills and opportunities to build a better future. This is a powerful reminder of how sport can bring people together, break down barriers, and inspire positive change in our communities.”

Ms Ong Ling Lee, Executive Director, Sports & Wellness of the Singapore Tourism Board, said, “The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon brings together athletes from around the world, showcasing Singapore as a premier destination for international sporting events. The event has grown from strength to strength, and it’s inspiring to see how more international runners are choosing to run the marathon in Singapore, a strong testament to the overall experience the event and what a visit here provides these participants. We look forward to welcoming even more enthusiasts to experience Singapore’s vibrant sports scene.”

Winners of the Gold Label Elite Marathon Men’s and Women’s categories took home prize money of USD $45,000 each.

National Championship: Celebrating Singapore’s Running Talent

The National Championship also featured outstanding performances, with Soh Rui Yong and Rachel See claiming the Men’s and Women’s marathon titles, respectively, each taking home SGD $10,000. They finished with impressive times of 02.41.07 and 02.55.45. These victories highlight the depth of running talent in Singapore and reinforce the event’s role in fostering a vibrant local running community.

Soh Rui Yong, five time male winner of the National Champ category for the full marathon said, “This year’s race was indeed a tougher race than last year especially with the refreshed routes along west coast highway and the Benjamin Sheares bridge. The heat and humidity also added to this. There was a close fight for the podium in the national championship category and it was good to have more competitive runners this year. But overall, I was very happy with the results.”

Reflecting on her win, Rachel said, “This year’s run at SCSM 2024 felt more meaningful and fun. I approached the race with more consciousness and made it a point to opt for a slower pace to take in the scenery of the route. As I prepared, my daughter reminded me that each step is a step toward the finish line, and this was my motivation for the race. This race was about more than chasing a personal best; it was about being present, enjoying the journey and celebrating the process. SCSM 2024 was a truly fulfilling experience.”

Commenting on the event, Mr Roy Teo, Chief of Industry Development, Technology and Innovation from Sport Singapore said, “The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon is more than an annual race to our local running community. This event reflects our community’s passion for running and is one of the most iconic marquee events that unites runners, supporters, and volunteers to celebrate the spirit of sportsmanship and resilience. This year’s record participation underscores the tremendous growth of sports in Singapore and solidifies SCSM’s role as a cornerstone in the local and regional sporting calendar. Watching these elite athletes cross the finish line and push their limits is a true inspiration, reinforcing our commitment to nurturing a vibrant and inclusive sports culture in Singapore.”

Jeff Edwards, Managing Director of Asia for The IRONMAN Group said, “The success of this year’s marathon is a testament to the incredible dedication and passion of the athletes and both the local and international running community. From the elite runners to those participating for a personal milestone, the event has once again proven to be a celebration of endurance, achievement, and the spirit of competition. We are thrilled to see the marathon continue to grow in significance, attracting talented athletes from around the world. We’re thrilled with this year’s success and can’t wait to take the event to an even higher level in 2025.”

With high spirits and stories of resilience resonating throughout the city, SCSM 2024 leaves a legacy of community, endurance, and impactful memories. As SCSM 2024 drew to a close, participants shared their readiness for the next race, where all runners – from elite athletes to first-time marathoners – will once again unite to push their limits and experience the vibrant spirit of Singapore’s premier marathon.

For more information, please visit https://singaporemarathon.com/.

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About Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon

The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon is the leading mass participation run and only World Athletics Gold Label race in South East Asia. Since 2002, the race has given runners unparalleled running experiences, threading through the heart of the city’s iconic landmarks, such as Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay, and against one of the world’s most iconic city skylines. SCSM comprises of five categories; Marathon 42.195 km, Half Marathon 21.1 km, 10 km, 5 km, and Kids Dash. The race has been a catalyst to growing the local and regional running community, bringing together approximately 50,000 professional, amateur, avid and leisure runners yearly. For more information, visit www.singaporemarathon.com.

About Standard Chartered Bank 

Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore is part of an international banking group, with a presence in 52 of the world’s most dynamic markets. Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, here for good.

The Bank has a history of 165 years in Singapore, where we opened our first branch in 1859. In October 1999, we were among the first international banks to receive a Qualifying Full Bank (QFB) license, an endorsement of the Group’s longstanding commitment to our business in the country.

Singapore is home to the majority of our global business leadership, our technology operations, as well as SC Ventures, our innovation hub. In 2013, the Bank transferred our Singapore Retail and SME businesses to a locally incorporated subsidiary, Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited (“SCBSL”). And in May 2019, we fully consolidated our business operations in Singapore through the transfer of our Commercial Banking, Corporate & Institutional Banking and Private Banking businesses to SCBSL. SCBSL is one of the highest-rated banks globally: A1/Stable by Moody’s Investor Services, A+/Stable by Standard & Poor’s and A+/Stable by Fitch Ratings. In August 2020, we were the first and only bank to be awarded the “Significantly Rooted Foreign Bank” (SRFB) status by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. In December 2020, we were granted enhanced SRFB privileges, in recognition of the significantly higher degree of rootedness exceeding the SRFB baseline criteria.

In September 2022, we launched Trust Bank Singapore Limited (Trust), our digital bank venture in partnership with FairPrice Group. Trust offers a wide range of products and features for retail customers, including credit cards, personal loans, savings accounts, insurance and money insights. Trust has become one of the world’s fastest-growing digital banks and amassed over 800,000 customers, equivalent to 16% of the Singapore market by end-August 2024. In Q4 2024, Trust won the global accolade for Best Mobile Banking App by The Digital Banker and became the first bank to be listed as a Best Workplace In Singapore.

In Singapore, we support both individual and corporate needs to build wealth and drive commerce at every step of their journey. We do this by offering an entire range of financial services across Wealth and Retail Banking as well as our Corporate and Investment Banking teams. The Bank has a network of 11 branches, including 4 Priority Banking Centres, 1 International Banking and Priority Private Centre, and 21 ATMs. For more information, please visit www.sc.com/sg.

About Sport Singapore

As the national sports agency, Sport Singapore’s core purpose is to inspire the Singapore spirit and transform Singapore through sport. Through innovative, fun and meaningful sporting experiences, our mission is to reach out and serve communities across Singapore with passion and pride. With Vision 2030 – Singapore’s sports master plan, our mandate goes beyond winning medals. Sport Singapore uses sport to create greater sporting opportunities and access, more inclusivity and integration as well as broader development of capabilities. Sport Singapore works with a vast network of public-private-people sector partners for individuals to live better through sport.

To find out more, visit SportSG’s websites at www.sportsingapore.gov.sg and https://www.activesgcircle.gov.sg/read. National sport/exercise participation statistics are available on the Sport Data Exchange Singapore (SportDexSG).

Follow SportSG on:

Facebook – https://go.gov.sg/sportsg-facebook

Instagram – https://go.gov.sg/sportsg-instagram

LinkedIn – https://go.gov.sg/sportsg-linkedin

About Singapore Tourism Board

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is the lead development agency for tourism, one of Singapore’s key economic sectors. Together with industry partners and the community, we shape a dynamic Singapore tourism landscape. We bring the Passion Made Possible brand to life by differentiating Singapore as a vibrant destination that inspires people to share and deepen their passions.

More: www.stb.gov.sg or www.visitsingapore.com | Follow us: STB LinkedIn, STB Facebook or STB Instagram

About The IRONMAN Group

The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Running Series, IRONKIDS^®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf^®, UTMB^® World Series trail-running events including the Canyons Endurance Runs™ by UTMB^®, Tarawera Ultra-Trail™ by UTMB^® and Ultra-Trail Australia™ by UTMB^®, Epic Series™ mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic^®, road cycling events, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world, providing participants the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Catering to the full athlete experience, the company portfolio also includes FulGaz^® virtual cycling, the most realistic indoor riding experience connected fitness application aimed at preparing athletes for real-world events. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN^® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business, and Orkila Capital, a growth equity firm focused on building great brands. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.

About Advance 

Advance is a private, family-held business that owns and invests in companies across media, entertainment, technology, communications, education and other promising growth sectors. Our mission is to build the value of our companies over the long-term by fostering growth and innovation. Advance’s portfolio includes Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage Entertainment, The IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders Group, Turnitin, and Pop. Together these operating companies employ more than 14,000 people in 29 countries. Advance is also among the largest shareholders in Charter Communications, Warner Bros. Discovery and Reddit. For more information visit www.advance.com.