What is the official marathon distance at the Summer Olympics?

The official Olympic marathon distance is 42.195 kilometers.

That distance equals 26 miles and 385 yards. The modern standard was fixed after the 1908 London Olympics, when organizers extended the course so the race could start at Windsor Castle and finish in front of the royal box at the Olympic stadium. The distance was later standardized internationally.

Earlier Olympic marathons did not always cover exactly the same length. At the first modern Olympics in Athens in 1896, the race was approximately 40 kilometers. Courses varied according to local roads, terrain and the locations of the start and finish.

The marathon is associated with the ancient Greek story of a messenger running from Marathon to Athens, although the modern race was created in the nineteenth century. Olympic marathons are run on roads, and both the men’s and women’s events use the same official distance.