Rio Marathon 2025 Sets Participation Record, Boosts City Businesses

The 2025 Rio de Janeiro Marathon finished on June 22 with more runners than ever before. Official numbers show 60,000 people signed up, a big jump from 45,000 last year.

The event lasted four days and included races for all levels, from 5 km up to the full marathon distance of 42 km. The men’s marathon winner was Joshua Kogo from Kenya, who finished in 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 17 seconds.

The women’s winner was Zinash Getachew from Ethiopia, who finished in 2 hours, 34 minutes, and 57 seconds. Brazilians also did well, with Justino Silva taking third place in the men’s race and Amanda Oliveira finishing second in the women’s race.

Most runners—about 85%—came from outside Rio. This brought a lot of visitors to the city, filling hotels and restaurants. In 2024, the marathon helped bring in R$355 million to the local economy and created more than 2,800 jobs.

With even more runners this year, the economic impact is expected to be higher, though final numbers are not yet available. The Rio Marathon started in 1979 and has grown each year.

Today, runners use modern gear and technology to track their times. The event now attracts top athletes and amateurs from around the world. This year’s races took place during warm weather, which made running tough, but the atmosphere stayed positive.

The marathon is now one of the biggest sports events in Brazil. It helps local businesses and shows how sports can bring people together and support a city’s economy.

All details and numbers in this story come from official race organizers and athletics authorities.

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