15,037 participants had the pleasure of pinning a bib again over distances from 1 to 42.195 km
Dominic Lokyniomo Lobalu (SSD) broke the Half-Marathon distance record in 1h 01m 39s
The six-time medalist of the Paralympic Games, the Swiss Marcel Hug explodes the Semi record in Wheelchair racing in 43m 37s
Emmanuel Gisamoda, the champion of the Balexert 20 km of Geneva, wins the queen distance of the event in 2h 10m 39s
More than 18,500 CHF in donations collected for The Human Safety Net for Refugee Switzerland
To reward their exploits, the last woman and the last man in the marathon received a Maurice Lacroix watch
It's a weekend that we love and that we missed so much, which has just ended for the Generali Geneva Marathon.
What a joy to have found this excitement again with more than 15,000 participants, smiles and tears of joy... A real cocktail of emotions. After two years of twists and turns, this return to normal expected from runners, walkers, elites, popular people, volunteers, partners, authorities and organizers only had more flavor.
From the youngest to the oldest, from the initiated to the most athletic, with or without a disability, everyone has (re)found the pleasure of taking part in one of the 8 race formats offered.
A festive weekend under the sun
From Friday to Sunday, the event village shined, welcoming the many participants and their companions who came to collect their bibs, enjoy the activities and the catering area.
The juniors opened the ball on Saturday afternoon. More than 1,900 seed champions set foot on Geneva soil, some for their first race. More and more children each year are taking a liking to running, from the age of 3, accompanied by a parent for the little ones.
At the end of the day on Saturday, the 5 km by Always, now open to diversity, delighted more than 900 participants who completed a round trip along the quays on an ultra-fast course. Inaugurating this distance, it was the Pole Bartosz KWIECINSKI who won in 15'38. “I tried to push myself as much as possible during the second part. It was a super fast race, I loved it.“ exclaims the big winner after his race. Among the women, Charlene DELHORME (FR) presents a time of 18'00. The Frenchwoman looks back on her victory: “It’s the first time I’ve run this distance. I have been working on my mind a lot lately and it has helped me a lot.”
Later in the evening, the 4,313 participants in the 10 km Run, Walk and Nordic Walk formats set off from Chêne-Bourg to reach the Gustave-Ador quay. The runners crossed the finish line in the last light of day while the walkers finished in the moonlight.
The 10 km Race distance was won by one of the members of the THSN Refugee Team Abdi SALAM ALI (SOM) in 30'16. The race was very close until the end before the Somali sprinted over the last few meters. “This is the first time I have participated in this event. I didn't know the course but it was great. I will come back next year to beat my own record”.
The Englishwoman Rebekah THOMAS (GRB) caught on to a group of men very quickly, which allowed her to hold on until the end and win the event in 38'36. “There were so many people supporting me along the way, it was great.”
The day after this spring day, the start was given for the longest distances from Chêne-Bourg. The Semi Wheelchair Racers left first, followed by the half marathoners.
The event for all concluded with the start of the flagship race; the Marathon distance to be done alone or in relay. These idyllic routes between town and countryside made everyone happy; marathoners and half-marathoners.
“I do this route every year which is absolutely magnificent. For me it is one of the most beautiful Half-Marathons in Switzerland” exclaims Clarisse JECKELMANN, third in the Half-Marathon.
Paralympic athletes smash records
It was the Swiss Paralympic star, Marcel HUG, who crossed the finish line of the Semi Wheelchair race first, breaking the record for this distance (43m 37s). “The atmosphere was great. It was a pleasure to compete today,” said the Swiss champion. The German Merle MENJE also smashed the women's record in 51m 19s.
Within the Semi Armchair field was a prestigious procession of athletes recognized on the international scene such as Marcel HUG (CH), multi-medalist at the Paralympic Games, Alexandra HELBLING (CH) European champion in the 400m, Patricia EACHUS (CH ), 4th at the London Paralympic Games in the marathon distance, Julien CASOLI (FRA), world champion in the 10km road event in 2010.
A THSN trio on the Half-Marathon podium
As for the half-marathoners, the battle was very close between the three compatriots of the THSN Refugee Team; Dominic LOBALU, Tadesse ABRAHAM and Kidane SOLOMON. The trio remained close until the 9th km before Dominic increased the pace to lead the pace. Dominic, in very good shape recently, won the victory and broke the Half-Marathon record (1h 01m 39s) formerly held by Geneva's Tadesse ABRAHAM.
Among the women, it was the Kenyan Cynthia KOSGEI who won and brought the distance record below the 1h10 mark in 1h 09m 49s (new personal best). In second place, the Eritrean Sina MICHAEL, member of the THSN Refugee Team, finished a few minutes later followed by the Vaudoise Clarisse JECKELMANN.
First Marathon, first victory
On the queen distance, it was the Tanzanian Emmanuel GISAMODA who snatched victory in his first marathon in 2h 10m 39s. From the 15th km, Emmanuel took the lead of the peloton and pushed for a big acceleration in the last part of the race, allowing him to cross the finish line a little less than a minute before the second place. This is his second victory in Geneva, after his first place in the Balexert 20 km of Geneva last November.
A head start for the big winner of the marathon
The women's victory went to the Ethiopian Meseret DINKE who won the marathon in 2h 26m 22s. After letting go of the women's peloton at the 20th km, Meseret began the second part of the race completely alone with two minutes ahead of the second.
A luxurious gift for the latest marathon runners
In order to salute the feat carried out by the participants of the queen distance, the organizing committee reserved an exceptional surprise for the last finishers of the Marathon distance. Indeed, a Maurice Lacroix watch was offered to the last man and the last woman. Double reward for these lucky finishers who were also entitled to the legendary guard of honor at the finish.
A word from the director
Benjamin Chandelier, Director of the event declared “What a joy to have been able to (re)experience this wonderful celebration of running. It is with joy and pride that we close this 16th edition which has broken new records. We are also proud to have been able to collect more than 18,500 CHF in donations for our charitable partner, The Human Safety Net Switzerland for this first edition alongside them. On behalf of the organizing committee, I would like to thank our Title Partner Generali and all our partners who support us. A big thank you also to the competent authorities and administrations of the City, the Canton of Geneva as well as the 12 other municipalities crossed for their support. And finally, a huge thank you to all our volunteers for their invaluable help and without whom the event could not take place.”
See you in 2023
See you on May 6 and 7, 2023 to celebrate together the 17th edition of the Generali Geneva Marathon. A waiting list is already open for 2023 in order to receive the information in advance: here.