SINGAPORE, 7 December 2025 – The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ (SCSM) 2025 concluded an unforgettable weekend marked by historic achievements, holding true to this year’s inspiring tagline “Make That Finish Line Yours”. The city came alive from 4:30 am onwards, as thousands of runners, participating in the 10km, Marathon and Ekiden categories, surged through the streets, chasing personal bests and showcasing remarkable grit and determination.
This year’s two-day format introduced the Double Up Challenge, allowing participants to compete in the Half Marathon and Marathon on consecutive days. Among the participants included familiar faces such as celebrated athlete Soh Rui Yong, who made history as the first-ever double champion, clinching victories in both the Half Marathon and Marathon categories. Almost 850 runners embraced this bold test of stamina, taking part in various combinations of two categories of races across the weekend.
As Southeast Asia’s only World Athletics Gold Label race, SCSM 2025 welcomed over 55,000 runners over two days, including 14,000 international participants from 80 countries, reinforcing its status as the region’s premier running event and a key highlight on both local and global sporting calendars.
The final day featured the Marathon and Ekiden, which flagged off at 4:30 am, taking runners past Singapore’s most iconic landmarks — the National Stadium, Esplanade, Marina Bay, and Gardens by the Bay — before transitioning to the lush greenery of East Coast Park and Marina Barrage. The excitement continued with the 10km race, weaving through Suntec City and heritage-rich routes past War Memorial Park and across the scenic Esplanade Bridge. The Ekiden allowed runners to conquer the marathon distance in teams of four through a relay-style challenge with multiple changeover zones including Bayfront Plaza, ECP Carpark E1, and Marina Barrage.
Mr Daryl Yeo, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Development) at Sport Singapore, shared, “As the largest mass participation run in Singapore, the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon brings together runners, supporters, and volunteers in a shared celebration of sportsmanship and resilience. This year, with the half and full marathon taking place over two days, it has also presented a unique opportunity for more runners to take on the Double Up Challenge and push their limits. Seeing both elite and recreational runners cross the finish line highlights Sport Singapore’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and dynamic sporting culture in Singapore.”
RACE RESULTS
Gold Label Elite Marathon
In the Gold Label Elite Marathon, Abel Boniface Sikowo from Uganda claimed victory in the men’s category with a time of 02:15:40. Upon crossing the finish line, the defending champion dropped to his knees with happiness. Commenting on his repeat victory he said, “It feels great to run with my compatriots in Singapore. The relatively flatter course in addition with the good weather, made it a good experience. Thank you for inviting me yet again to run this year!”
In the women’s category, Shuko Genemo from Ethiopia emerged as the champion with a time of 02:41:24.
Shuko participated at SCSM 2016 but missed her chance at the top spot and expressed elation at finally having won. “I’m extremely happy to win at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon this time around! Words can’t express the joy I feel.”
Ms Lilian Chee, Director, Sports, Singapore Tourism Board shared, “This year’s record turnout from overseas participants is a testament to Singapore’s appeal, and to the ability of the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon in attracting elite athletes and passionate runners from across the world. Reinforcing our position as a premier destination for international sporting events, SCSM celebrates athletic achievement, and we congratulate all participants for being a part of this. Through the event, we are proud to share the vibrancy of our city with the world, and create unforgettable experiences that resonate far beyond the finish line.”
Winners of the Gold Label Elite Marathon Men’s and Women’s categories took home prize money of USD$50,000 each.
National Championship
The National Championship Marathon also saw astonishing performances from local candidates and returning champions with Soh Rui Yong and Rachel See claiming men’s and
women’s titles, taking home SGD$10,000 each. They finished with impressive timings of 02:46:23 and 02:58:15 respectively.
This victory marks Soh Rui Yong’s sixth title as the male National Champion in the full marathon. Following his Half Marathon win on Saturday, Soh has made history as the first-ever double champion at SCSM, triumphing in both the Half Marathon and Marathon categories.
“My ethos has always been this: challenge yourself—even if you fail, that’s okay. At least you tried and finished. Today was tough for me. I had to push hard in the Half Marathon the day before and sprint to the finish. My preparations for today weren’t ideal. I had little sleep and couldn’t eat much. But that’s expected when you sign up for something as challenging as a Double Up Challenge and I prepared myself mentally for it. Tomorrow, I might not even be able to walk. But that doesn’t mean I’ll give up. I’ll start again,” he said.
When asked if he would do this again, he said, “Would I do this again? Probably not. Ultra-marathons? Maybe. For now, I take it day by day.”
Rachel See remarked on her victory, “This was my local personal best and I feel incredible. Completing the marathon under three hours is a good time and I’m happy with it. I’m going to cherish this moment.”
Mr Patrick Lee, CEO, Singapore and ASEAN, Standard Chartered, said “As the title sponsor since 2002, Standard Chartered is proud to have been part of the incredible journey of the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon. Over the years, we’ve witnessed the event evolve into a world-class platform that showcases extraordinary talent and determination, while inspiring new generations of runners. This growth mirrors our own contributions to Singapore’s development, from supporting digital innovation to driving inclusion in financial services, since we opened our first branch here in 1859.”
“Beyond the competition, it provides opportunities for organisations like us to give back meaningfully, whether through initiatives that support underrepresented groups or programmes that empower families to participate together. Seeing thousands of runners take on the streets is a powerful reminder of why we champion this event.”, he added.
Jeff Edwards, Managing Director of Asia for The IRONMAN Group, added, “Every year, we witness extraordinary athletes pushing boundaries and achieving new personal bests. This year’s marathon truly embodied the spirit of inclusivity, bringing together elite runners, national champions, individuals of different abilities and their caregivers, alongside everyday runners, all united in pursuit of the same finish line. Along the route, moments of genuine sportsmanship shone through with participants supporting one another in remarkable ways, loved ones cheering from the sidelines, and volunteers creating an atmosphere of encouragement and celebration. We could not have asked for a better way to conclude our 10th year of organising SCSM.”
In the Men’s and Women’s Non-Competitive Marathon category, runners from Japan showed up strong, with Kodai Ogawa and Asami Minakawa completing the race with a timing of 02:24:53 and 03:01:39 respectively.
Ogawa kept it nice and simple and said he was happy to hit his second-best time, while Minakawa, said she was not used to the humidity as it was her first time running in Singapore, but she enjoyed the experience, nevertheless. She added that her preparation for the Tsukuba Marathon which took place two weeks ago, helped her perform well.
This edition of SCSM welcomed several runners who defied the odds to cross the finish line. Among them was Chris Koch, a Canadian para-athlete who participated in the Double Up Challenge. Using a longboard as his mobility device, Chris completed both the Half Marathon and Marathon with times of 02:52:32 and 04:20:05 respectively. He made history as the first-ever SCSM participant to finish the race on a longboard.
High energy and sheer joy filled the air as SCSM 2025 drew to a close, leaving behind stories of inspirational achievements and memorable moments that will be etched in the history of the marathon.
