The Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2026 took place on Sunday, with Bizuneh Melaku Belachew from Ethiopia claiming the men's full marathon title for the second time and Shitaye Eshete from Bahrain winning the women's champion.
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The full marathon kicked off at 6am on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. Belachew finished the race in two hours, nine minutes, and 39 seconds, while Eshete clocked in at two hours, 27 minutes, and three seconds.
The Ethiopian, who regains the title he first won in 2017, performed a lively dance immediately after crossing the finish line. "I dance every time I win. This is my style," he said.
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Belachew noted that the race remained intense until the 30-kilometer mark. He was able to pull ahead and adjust his pace as he still had energy. He also announced that he would return to compete next year. "I love Hong Kong every time, I'm so happy to come here each year," he said.
Eshete expressed gratitude to her coach for his dedicated training, which enabled her to secure the victory in the race. She said she had participated in an uphill marathon in Mexico before, but this was her first time competing in China.
She described the race as very challenging, with "many ups and downs and steep gradients." She added that she would participate next time and hoped to break the race record.
Meanwhile, Chen Yufan from Beijing won the men's half-marathon. He had topped the 10-kilometer event in 2024 and decided to challenge himself in the half-marathon this year.
"It was quite cool running in the morning. Compared to the 10km course, the half-marathon had a lot more hills—it was a new challenge for me since I'm not good at uphill sections," he said.
Chen also noted the enthusiastic support from the crowd, feeling that Hong Kong is a vibrant and passionate city, and planned to take a sightseeing bus tour in the evening.
Women's half-marathon champion Rachel See from Singapore shared how she balances work, family, and training time as a non-professional athlete. "I have two daughters. After making breakfast for them, I go for a run, then rush to work—that's how I fit it all in," she said.
Having competed in Hong Kong at least five times, she said the city's courses are challenging due to the many slopes. "What makes Hong Kong great is the sense of unity here. It's easy to find a group of fast runners who can run alongside you," she added.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, who officiated at the starting ceremony early in the morning, noted that the marathon solidifies Hong Kong's position as a major international sports city.
Writing on his official Facebook page, Lee said the government will continue to actively promote the development of sports in five key areas: supporting elite sports, hosting major events, enhancing professionalism, driving industrialisation, and promoting sports in the community.
"The government will organize a variety of sports and recreational events to motivate residents to maintain regular exercise habits," he said.
