RECORD, PEACE TO UCRAINE, THE POPE: THE HISTORY OF ROME MARATHON

DORANDO PIETRI - The queen distance in the Italian capital has a strong tradition. We could go over a century back, to 2nd April 1906, when the Emilian Dorando Pietri won the marathon reaching the finish line in Siena square.

ABEBE BIKILA - We could go back to 60 years ago, to that magic night of Roma Olympics of 1960, when the Ethiopian Abebe Bikila started the period of African marathoners, running barefoot for the whole race. He became a myth, his ride on Appia Antica, enlightened by torches is pure history of athletics, just like his winner picture as he arrived to Arco di Costantino.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - More golden medals, this time we are talking about World campionships, on 6th September 1987 with the victory of Kenyan-Japanese Douglas Wakiihuri, huge icon of world foot racing.

YESTERDAY AND TODAY - The marathon that we all know today originates in 1995 with Italia Marathon Club and in 2011 it is awarded the prestigious award Iaaf Gold Label. In 2019 the organization was entrusted to Fidal, from 2020 there is a new organizing committee formed by Infront, Corriere dello Sport – Stadium, Italia Marathon Club and Atielle Roma, because of Covid-19 the edition of 29th March 2020 unfortunately could not take place, a few weeks from the start the world had to stop for a global lockdown that did not allow the holding. New energies and a new edition in the Alba Edition Special Race of last 19 September 2021, the marathon of revival, resumption, come- back dreaming a big international event in the Eternal City. Starting at dawn, with the rays of sunshine enlightening the monuments, Rome thanks to the marathon has had a new start and is back to running.

The Italian Achievements

In the last editions there were over 115 countries participating, while the male hall of fame there are 7 victories from Ethiopia, 14 from Kenya, 3 from Italy with Stefano Baldini, Ruggero Pertile and Alberico Di Cecco. On the female side we can find Russian victories, but also from Estonia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Algeria. There are also lots of people thanks to the victories of Franca Fiacconi, Maura Viceconte, Maria Guida, Maria Cocchetti, Gloria Marconi and Ornella Ferrara.

A RECORD-BREAKING 2022!

The male race of 2022 has recorded a new path record. The author was Bekele Fikre Tefera from Etiopia who wont in 2:06’48’’, breaking the previous record belonging to Benjamin Kiptoo Kolum from Kenia in 2009: 2:07’18’’. Record improved again by the second and third place of this edition, respectively the other Ethiopian Mamo Tadesse Temechachu (2:07’04’’) also the Moroccan Othamane El Goumri (2:07’16’’). 9 athletes have reached the finish line before 2h10’. For women is even more valid the record by Kebede Megertu Alemu (Ethiopia) who in April 2019 ran in 2h22’52’’

2022 For Peace In Ukraine

Amongst the thousands of foreign participants there was the 30 years old Ukranian Viktoriia Gudyma, who came in Italy with her 10 years old child, directly from Varsavia where she sheltered right after the start of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Landed with no luggage in Fiumicino, thanks to the action of Athletica Vaticana, Viktoriia and her child have been hosted for a few days in the Institute of Suore Adoratrici del Sangue di Cristo in Via Labicana. The organizers of the marathon of Rome provided Viktoriia with new running shoes and a technical t-shirt and shorts kit.and she thanked them in the best way, with that smile and that finish line in 3:28’19’’. These are her words: << I am very glad to be in Rome and about my race today. I ran for the Ukranian people, with my Country in my heart and the flag on the shoulders, with that blue representing peace.>>

2022 Special Pacers

Annalisa Minetti and Sara Vargetto are two incredible women. Minetti, paralympic athlete, with the determination and the attitude that characterizes her, has managed to reach her goal: to bring the marathoners and reach the finish line in 4 hours. There will be a Roma teenagers who is affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis, disease that forces her into move on a wheelchair. She shares with her father Paolo the passion for running and it was him that accompanied her in this adventure of 4 years and 10 minutes.

With The Pope

On the occasion of the Jubilee there was a run on 1st January 2022, a historical date. Giovanni Paolo II in Piazza San Pietro gave his greetings to all the participants lined up on the starting line of the marathon. In 2022 Pope Francesco greeted during the Angelus in Piazza San Pietro: “I greet the participants of the marathon of Rome, this year as an initiative by Athletica Vaticana several athletes have being involved in solidary projects. Congratulations.”

Barefoot

The Kenyan Siraj Gena’s success in 2010 is unforgettable: he reached the finish line barefoot in honor of Abebe Bikila. The Ethiopian in 1960 was the first African to win in Olympic gold and ran the entire marathon barefoot, he had new shoes that were given to him just few hours before the beginning of the race, he preferred to be barefoot. Half a century after Siray Gena took her shoes off, about 500 meters from the finishing line from the arrival where one of Bikila’s kid was.