“Women only world record” - London marathon commentator

[AnotherAngryAcademic]

I’m watching the marathon and the commentator keeps saying “women only world record”. Does anyone know where this has come from? I have not heard commentators saying this before. They don’t say “men only world record” when talking about the men. Is it just that they are trying to avoid criticism?

It's because the women's world record was set with male pacemakers, so the women only world record referees to the record with no male assistance.

Thank you! That makes sense 🙂

The London Marathon does not allow transgender women to compete in elite, championship and 'good for age' female races, in accordance with World Athletics guidelines introduced in 2023.
Transgender athletes are able to compete in the mass participation event and can self-select their gender on the ballot.

I noticed this.
I wondered if it was a reference to the recent clarification.
but thank you Suesheemee- that’s interesting.

The presence of male pacemakers can help women run faster so "women only world record" is a record set where all participants in the elite race, including pace makers, were women.

I found it really interesting!

Can the female pacemakers run the whole thing does anyone know?

So Paula Radcliffe's 2003 London record of 2 hrs 15 mins is classed as mixed sex as she ran with male pace makers.

They can do, yes - they're entered for the race the same way as the runners they're pacemaking for.
Most drop out before the finish, but some do complete the distance, even occasionally winning (Berlin 2000).

Amazing, thank you!! Would have loved to have seen the pacer in the women's elite finish, she was spectacular!

Elite pacemaking is slightly different from mass race pacemaking. Mr Monkey paces for half marathons (mass race not elite!) and he chooses to pace for time he knows he has comfortably achieved a fair few times so he can get people to the finish time they want. Elite pace makers tend to drop back before the finish (as noted above).

Does anyone know if athletes with DSDs can compete in the women’s race?