The world’s greatest line-up of female distance runners will take on the elite women’s race at the 2023 TCS London Marathon on Sunday 23 April.

Among those taking part in the most star-studded race in the history of marathon running are the defending champion and world 10K record holder Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH), the marathon world record holder Brigid Kosgei (KEN) and the Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir (KEN).

In addition to that stellar trio, the reigning Olympic 10,000m and 5000m champion Sifan Hassan (NED) will be making her marathon debut.

Also on the Start Line will be the 1500m world record holder Genzebe Dibaba (ETH), the 2016 Olympic 10,000m champion Almaz Ayana (ETH) and the reigning Berlin Marathon champion Tigist Assefa (ETH), the fifth-fastest women’s marathoner in history.

A showdown of speed

The field will also include Britain's Eilish McColgan, the reigning Commonwealth Games 10000m champion making her marathon debut, as well as three national record holders: Emily Sisson (USA), Sinead Diver (AUS) and Natasha Wodak (CAN).

American record holder Sisson will have a fascinating race. Following compatriot Keira D’Amato's 10-month US record of 2:19:12, which she set at the 2022 Houston Marathon, Sisson reduced the US record even further at last October’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon when she ran 2:18:29 to finish second overall*. She has since gone on to become the USA’s half marathon record holder as well, running 66:52 in Houston on 15 January.

The finest field so far

Hugh Brasher, Event Director of the TCS London Marathon, said: “This is quite simply the greatest women’s field ever assembled for a marathon – arguably the greatest field ever assembled for a women’s distance race. We have two reigning Olympic champions, three world record holders and multiple national record holders, in addition to an incredibly strong British contingent led by Eilish McColgan.

“It’s going to be a race the whole world will be anticipating and I can’t wait to see what happens on Sunday 23 April. We’ve had such a rich pedigree of incredible women’s results here in London. We have had world records and unforgettable performances from the likes of Grete Weitz, Ingrid Kristiansen, Paula Radcliffe and Mary Keitany. I am sure this amazing 2023 women’s field will provide another extraordinary chapter in the London Marathon’s rich and proud history of stunning races.”

Reigning champion Yehualaw said: “My victory at last year’s TCS London Marathon was a day I will never forget. I am very much looking forward to returning to London and being part of this amazing field.”

Hassan, the double Olympic champion, said: “Moving up to the marathon distance has always been a plan of mine and I’m really excited to be making my debut at the TCS London Marathon. It will be a step into the unknown in many ways for me but I’m looking forward to it.”

In total, the 2023 TCS London Marathon elite women’s field will feature 10 women who have run inside 2:19 and five who have gone under 2:18.

You can view the full elite women's start list for the 2023 TCS London Marathon below and find out more about the elite men’s field here. For more information on the elite wheelchair athlete races, click here.

Elite women at the 2023 TCS London Marathon

• Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH, personal best 2:17:23)
• Brigid Kosgei (KEN, 2:14:04 WR)
• Tigist Assefa (ETH, 2:15:37)
• Peres Jepchirchir (KEN, 2:17:16)
• Almaz Ayana (ETH, 2:17:20)
• Genzebe Dibaba (ETH, 2:18:05)
• Sutume Asefa Kebede (2:18:12)
• Judith Jeptum Korir (KEN, 2:18:20)
• Emily Sisson (USA, 2:18:29 NR)
• Alemu Megertu (ETH, 2:18:32)
• Natasha Wodak (CAN, 2:23:12 NR)
• Charlotte Purdue (GBR, 2:23:26)
• Susanna Sullivan (USA, 2:25:14)
• Ellie Pashley (AUS, 2:26:21)
• Stephanie Davis (GBR, 2:27:16)
• Maor Tiyouri (ISR, 2:29:04)
• Alice Wright (GBR, 2:29:08)
• Rosie Edwards (GBR, 2:31:56)
• Samantha Harrison (GBR, 2:32:22)
• Eilish McColgan (GBR, debut)
• Sifan Hassan (NED, debut)
• Girmawit Gebrzihair (ETH, debut)
• Dominique Scott (RSA, debut)

_{* The only other US woman to have run inside 2:20 is Deena Kastor, who held the American record for 16 years with a time of 2:19:36, which she set when she won the London Marathon in 2006.}