Hug and Schär lead Sydney wheelchair field

The TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS has announced a world-class field of elite wheelchair athletes for next month’s historic race.

Marking the event’s first year as an Abbott World Marathon Major, this year’s race will bring together the fastest and most decorated wheelchair racers from across the globe.

Leading the charge in the city’s first Major is Marcel Hug (SUI), the most decorated men’s wheelchair marathoner of all time.

Nicknamed the 'Silver Bullet' for his trademark helmet and unrelenting pace, Hug is the current world record-holder 1:17:47, a seven-time Paralympic gold medallist, and the only male athlete in history to win all six Majors in a single year (2023). He also has an extraordinary 37 AbbottWMM titles.

Challenging Hug is one of the most accomplished men’s wheelchair marathon fields ever assembled in Australia.

Tomoki Suzuki (JPN) a Paralympic bronze medallist, is widely regarded as the next dominant force in men’s wheelchair racing. Touted as the natural successor to Hug, Suzuki’s rapid rise has marked him as a future global champion.

He will be joined by a strong contingent of countrymen including 2024 runner-up Sho Watanabe (JPN) and third-placed Kota Hokinoue (JPN), making Japan one of the most competitive nations in this year’s men's field.

Josh Cassidy (CAN) returns looking to defend his crown as the two-time reigning TCS Sydney Marathon champion.

A three-time Paralympian, Cassidy made history with his 2012 win at the Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America, clocking a blistering 1:18:25, the fastest time ever recorded at the time, and still the third fastest time in history.

The depth of talent continues with an exceptional lineup that includes Paralympic gold medallist and six-time Major winner Daniel Romanchuk (USA); eight-time TCS London Marathon winner David Weir (GBR), distinguished racer Geert Schipper (NED), and seasoned contenders Aaron Pike (USA) and JohnBoy Smith (GBR). Rounding out the lineup are top locals Jake Lappin (AUS) and Sam Rizzo (AUS), both aiming to deliver strong performances in front of a home crowd.

The female field showcases an elite roster of international talent, led by Susannah Scaroni (USA) the top seed and reigning Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America champion.

Scaroni is one of the most dominant athletes in the sport today, holding a personal best of 1:27:31, the fastest time in this year’s women’s field. A Paralympic gold medallist, she is known for her explosive power, aggressive race strategy and consistent AbbottWMM performances, including wins in Boston, Chicago and New York. Scaroni will arrive in Sydney as the athlete to beat.

She’ll be joined by Swiss star Manuela Schär (SUI), a three-time AbbottWMM Series champion, Paralympic medallist, and former world record-holder. Schär made history by becoming the first athlete, male or female, wheelchair or able-bodied, to win all six AbbottWMM races in a single series, completing a clean sweep from Berlin 2018 to Berlin 2019.

With 22 AbbottWMM victories, Schär remains one of the most respected and accomplished athletes in women’s wheelchair racing.

Rounding out the formidable field are Samantha Kinghorn (GBR), a Scottish star and the fastest female British wheelchair athlete in history over all distances from 100m to 800m and Eden Rainbow-Cooper (GBR), the first British woman to win the Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America. Adding further depth are returning contenders Yen Hoang (USA), who finished third in 2024, Michelle Wheeler (USA), along with Wakako Takahashi (JPN), Vanessa De Sousa (BRA), Linden William (USA), Tsubasa Nakamine (JPN), and Patricia Eachus (SUI).

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