Strintzos Claims Historic Gold Coast Win
Haftu Strintzos made Gold Coast Marathon history, while Madison de Rozario claimed her fifth title.
What’s happening?
Haftu Strintzos has delivered one of the greatest performances in the history of the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon, becoming the first Australian man in 20 years to win the event.
The 26-year-old Victorian won the 2026 men’s marathon in 2:06:20, smashing the course record and setting new Australian and Oceania records.
His victory ended a long wait for an Australian men’s champion on the Gold Coast, with Lee Troop the last to win the race in 2006.
The record-breaking run also capped a huge weekend for Australian athletes. Madison de Rozario won her fifth Gold Coast Recreation and Sport Wheelchair Marathon title, while Abigail Nordberg was the first Australian woman home in the marathon.
Ethiopia’s Almaz Kebebe won the women’s ASICS Gold Coast Marathon, and Japan’s Kota Hokinoue claimed the men’s wheelchair marathon.
More than 43,000 participants entered the 46th annual event across the weekend, making it another major year for the Gold Coast’s signature running festival.
Why it matters?
Strintzos’ win was more than a race victory. It rewrote the record book and gave Australian marathon running one of its biggest local moments in decades.
His time of 2:06:20 cut 73 seconds from the previous ASICS Gold Coast Marathon record of 2:07:33, set by Japan’s Yuki Takei in 2025. It also eclipsed Andy Buchanan’s Australian and Oceania mark of 2:06:22, set in Valencia in 2024.
After crossing the finish line, Strintzos collapsed to the ground as the size of the moment began to sink in.
“It hasn’t quite registered yet, I’m sure it will soon. It’s quite a memorable moment, a breakthrough moment for me,” Strintzos said.
“I’ve been working hard for this, grateful for all the support I’ve got. Super excited and more to come.”
Strintzos said he felt strong at the 30km mark and trusted the plan he had discussed with his coach, Adam, before the race.
“I felt pretty good by about 30km, I want to give a shoutout to the pacers, they were spot on with their pacing,” he said.
“I discussed with my coach, Adam prior to the start of the race, depending on how I felt at the 30km mark, to just go for it and take my chances and whatever happens, happens.”
“I knew I had it in me, and it was a matter of when, not if, and this was a perfect opportunity for it with a top field.”
“The crowd and energy were amazing. The last 10km was ecstatic, the energy of the crowd was incredible.”
Local Impact
The 2026 ASICS Gold Coast Marathon again showed why the event is one of the city’s major sporting and tourism drawcards.
Sunday’s marathon program brought more than 17,000 people onto the streets, following Saturday’s Super Saturday events with 26,000 participants.
Across the weekend, the event recorded more than 43,000 entries, including almost 4200 international participants from 60 countries. Organisers said 82 per cent of participants travelled from outside the Gold Coast, filling hotels, cafes and local streets.
Events Management Queensland CEO Ben Mannion said the team was thrilled with the record-breaking weekend.
“The ASICS Gold Coast Marathon is all about delivering great experiences, and we are thrilled with the weekend,” Mannion said.
“Our participants have covered more than 1.1 million kilometres across the weekend.”
“It takes a lot of work behind the scenes to put this wonderful event together, and the team at EMQ is incredibly proud of what we have been able to deliver.”
“Our event is very much tourism-focused, and it was wonderful to record numbers of international and interstate participants taking to the streets and filling cafes and hotels across the Gold Coast this weekend.”
“The challenge is now working on how we can grow the event and finding ways to be innovative so more people can enjoy this event in the future.”
By the numbers
Strintzos finished in 2:06:20, breaking the former race record by 73 seconds and beating the Australian and Oceania mark by two seconds.
Almost 4,200 international participants came from 60 countries, while 82 per cent of all participants travelled from outside the Gold Coast.
Four Australian women finished inside the top 10 of the women’s marathon.
Zoom In
Strintzos’ win carried an extraordinary backstory. Born in northern Ethiopia, he spent his early childhood as a shepherd before meeting Australian aid worker Maria Strintzos, who later adopted him and brought him to Melbourne.
He had not been introduced to running before arriving in Australia. That changed when a primary school teacher encouraged him to try Little Athletics.
From there, he earned a scholarship to Haileybury College in Victoria before heading to Villanova University in the United States, where he developed into one of Australia’s top distance runners.
Strintzos has represented Australia at the Oceania Championships and World Cross Country Championships. He also had strong Gold Coast form before Sunday, having won the Southern Cross University 10km run in 2024.
Earlier this year, he won the Launceston Half Marathon and set a new Australian All-Comers record of 1:00:41. On Sunday, he turned that form into a career-shaping marathon win.
Japan’s Hidekazu Hijikata finished second in 2:07:20, also going under the former race record. He stayed with Strintzos until the northern turn at 36.6km, before the Australian made the move that decided the race.
“I wanted to take first place, so a bit disappointed about the second place; however, this is my second-best time ever, so the way I handled the race itself, I am quite satisfied,” Hijikata said.
“The crowd was cheering for the Australian very loud, the loudest crowd I have ever raced in front of. So I just needed to focus on myself. He [Strintzos] made a move, and that decided the result.”
Japan’s Jinya Ozaki finished third in 2:07:48 in his first marathon.
“This was my first Gold Coast Marathon. It was good conditions. I will be back next year,” Ozaki said.
Japan again showed its strong link with the Gold Coast Marathon, with seven Japanese runners finishing inside the men’s top 10.
Men’s ASICS Gold Coast Marathon top 10
Zoom Out
The women’s marathon added another strong international storyline to the day, with Ethiopia’s Almaz Kebebe winning in 2:24:53.
The 20-year-old held her composure through the closing stages to claim the biggest victory of her career. Her time was 31 seconds outside the women’s race record of 2:24:22, set by Japan’s Yuki Nakamura in 2024.
“This is a big victory for me, this is unbelievable,” Kebebe said.
“The pace was really good, and then the other runners came for me before I chased them. I’m really happy, it’s a surprise for me.”
“The Gold Coast is amazing. It is a beautiful place. Thank you to all the fans for supporting us.”
Kenya’s Antonina Kwambai finished second in 2:25:41 after arriving as one of the elite favourites.
“I’m feeling very excited, it was a good time. It was my first time on the Gold Coast. It was a very nice course, and running with pacers was good,” Kwambai said.
“I like the Gold Coast, it’s amazing. Great course, flat course, great beaches. It was wonderful.”
Japan’s Kaede Kawamura was third in 2:28:00.
“I was aiming for a better time, and I slowed down at the end of the race, but overall very happy to have come third today,” Kawamura said.
Australia also had a strong showing in the women’s race. Abigail Nordberg, a two-time Sydney Half Marathon winner, was the first Australian woman home after placing fourth in a personal best time of 2:30:22.
Milly Clark finished sixth in 2:31:18, Simone McInnes placed ninth in 2:34:46, and Riine Ringi finished tenth in 2:36:19.
Women’s ASICS Gold Coast Marathon top 10
The wheelchair marathon brought more standout performances, led by Japan’s Kota Hokinoue and Australia’s Madison de Rozario.
Hokinoue won the men’s Gold Coast Recreation and Sport Wheelchair Marathon in 1:39:02, adding another Gold Coast victory after his 2023 win. He had finished second in 2024 and 2025.
“It feels great, frankly, very happy to be the first-place winner again,” Hokinoue said.
“I wanted to race Sam and Jake [previous winners], but they weren’t here, so I basically had to race by myself.”
“I was aiming for a PB, but it didn’t happen this year. Very happy with the win though.”
Australian rookie Tristan Orchard finished second in 1:48:13, almost 10 minutes behind Hokinoue. The result was especially meaningful because it was Orchard’s first race using a racing chair.
“I did it a couple of times in my day chair, so a little bit quicker, so fantastic. From the start, Koda just went, and you could tell he’s on another level,” Orchard said.
“I’m really happy. I can’t really describe it to be honest, I’ve been working pretty hard to get here, hopefully it’s only up from here.”
Bill Chaffey, a two-time race winner on the Gold Coast, completed the men’s podium in 1:52:22.
“It’s my local race. I live at Tweed Heads, so I’m pretty much a Gold Coaster, and this is just a fantastic race,” Chaffey said.
“I got broken today at 29km, Tristan just pulled away from me, and I just couldn’t keep going with him.”
In the women’s wheelchair race, de Rozario again showed her class on one of her favourite courses. The five-time Paralympian won in 1:57:03, claiming her fifth Gold Coast Wheelchair Marathon title.
Her career includes two Paralympic gold medals, eight Paralympic medals, four Commonwealth Games gold medals, and multiple London Marathon wins. She was also the first Australian woman to win the wheelchair division of the New York City Marathon.
“The energy on this course is one of my favourites in the world, I think it’s one of the reasons we always try to come back,” de Rozario said.
“The way it’s designed, you get to see so many of the runners as well, which is one of the most beautiful parts of the marathon that we don’t always get to experience in the elite field.”
“I was feeling pretty flat out there today, to be honest, 15km I was really fighting for it, just to get through to 42km.”
On claiming her fifth Gold Coast title, de Rozario said the milestone felt special after the race.
“You don’t think about it when you’re out there, but it’s nice,” she said.
“There are so many legends in our sport, and to kind of like come anywhere near some of the numbers is always exciting.”
Sharnie Digby finished second in the women’s wheelchair race in 2:59:30. She also competed in the 10km and 5km wheelchair races on Saturday, completing a big weekend with a podium finish.
Gold Coast Recreation and Sport Wheelchair Marathon top 10
Australian Winners
Haftu Strintzos won the men’s ASICS Gold Coast Marathon in 2:06:20, setting new course, Australian and Oceania records.
Madison de Rozario won the women’s Gold Coast Recreation and Sport Wheelchair Marathon in 1:57:03, her fifth Gold Coast title.
Abigail Nordberg was the first Australian woman home, finishing fourth in 2:30:22 with a personal best.
Tristan Orchard placed second in the men’s wheelchair marathon in 1:48:13, in his first race using a racing chair.
What To Look For Next?
Strintzos’ record run gives Australian marathon running a major new marker, and it places him firmly among the country’s leading distance runners.
His Gold Coast victory also gives the event a strong Australian storyline heading into 2027, after a 20-year wait for a local men’s champion.
For organisers, the focus turns to growing the event after record entries, strong interstate travel and a major international turnout.
With Australian records, elite wheelchair racing and runners from 60 countries, the Gold Coast Marathon has set a high standard for its next edition.