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Rock, paper, scissors game sets elite race days for 2027 two-day London Marathon

Organisers said a rock, paper, scissors game between Sabastian Sawe and Catherine Debrunner decided which day each elite race will be held at the 2027 London Marathon. Debrunner won, so the men's races fall on Saturday 24 April and the women's on Sunday.

2 outlets · 0L · 2C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: BBC News
Image: CNA

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The story, neutrally told

A game of rock, paper, scissors was used to decide when the elite men's and women's races will be held at next year's two-day London Marathon. Men's marathon world record holder Sabastian Sawe lost to women's wheelchair world record holder Catherine Debrunner; both won their races at the 2026 London Marathon. As a result, the elite men's and men's wheelchair races will be held on Saturday 24 April, and the women's events on the traditional Sunday.

Hugh Brasher, chief executive of London Marathon Events, called the contest "an entertaining way to decide which day would host each elite race". The marathon, traditionally a one-day event, will run over two days as a one-off in 2027 after a record 1.33 million people entered the ballot. The BBC adds that 100,000 participants are expected, more than £150m is estimated to be raised for charity, and women's championship categories will start behind the women's elite field for the first time.

CNA notes Sawe was the first man to run a sub-two-hour marathon in a record-eligible race, finishing in 1:59:30 in London in 2026.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left0 outlets

No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Centre2 outlets

Framing
Light, factual news item led by the game and its result, with quotes from organisers. The BBC adds event context (participants, fundraising, women's field); CNA adds Sawe's record run.
Emphasis
BBC: the two-day format's aims and women's racing. CNA: Sawe's sub-two-hour record.
Leaves out or plays down
CNA omits the 100,000 participant figure, charity estimate and women's field details; BBC omits Sawe's exact record time.
Charged language
“battle”
For example
“Sabastian and Catherine's rock, paper, scissors battle was an entertaining way to decide which day would host each elite race” — BBC News
“Kenyan Sawe, who became the first man to run a sub-two hour marathon in a record-eligible race” — CNA

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No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.