Saint Silvester Marathon
Encyclopedia
The Saint Silvester Road Race (official name in ) is a long-distance running event, the oldest and most prestigious street race in Brazil
.
Regarded as the main international event in Latin American athletics, the Brazilian competition is held yearly in the city of São Paulo
on December 31. This day is Saint Silvester
's Day, as it is the day in which the Catholic
saint, who was a Pope
, died in the 4th century of the Christian Era.
São Paulo's race was originally known as a "marathon", although the course of the race, whose length has varied considerably over the years, was never that of a full marathon. Because of that, the organization eventually dropped the term "marathon", starting to refer to the event as a "race", "international race" or "road race". There was never an official effort on the part of the organization to address the change in the nomenclature, which causes many, including some media outlets, to continue using the term "Saint Silvester Marathon" when referring to the event. Its course is only 15 km (9.3 mi) long, less than half the length of a marathon but the race is made more difficult by the intense heat of the Brazilian summer and the geographical obstacles that have to be surmounted by the athletes.
Several other places like Amadora
and Porto
in Portugal
(Corrida de São Silvestre), Calderara di Reno
(Maratona di San Silvestro) and Bolzano (BOclassic
) in Italy
, and Madrid
in Spain
(San Silvestre Vallecana
), organize yearly Saint Silvester road races or marathons every late December.
The race was held for the first time on December 31, 1925. Unlike most events as old or older, it has not been interrupted or suspended even once during its history, not even for the duration of World War II.
Originally, it was intended for men only, and participation was restricted to citizens of the city of São Paulo. In the following years, runners from other parts of the country joined the race, but it was not until 1941 that a runner not from the city of São Paulo won the race: José Tibúrcio dos Santos, of Minas Gerais
, another Brazilian state. At that time, the event was not yet open to foreign participation. That meant that athletes from other countries could not come in to participate, but foreigners residing in the city of São Paulo (immigrants) were free to enroll. Because of this, Italian Heitor Blasi was the only foreigner to have won the race before 1947.
In 1945 the field was opened so that foreign runners could participate. The first international race was restricted to invited runners from South America, but the success of the first two "international events" led race organizers to open the event to the rest of the world in 1947. That year marked the beginning of a 34-year-long period during which no Brazilian man won the event, until José João da Silva, from Pernambuco
, won in 1980 (he would repeat the feat in 1985).
The event would remain a men-only affair until 1975, when the United Nations
declared that year as the International Year of Women. In commemoration of this, the race organizers held the women's race for the first time. The women's race started as an open event, and the first Brazilian victory would come only in its 20th edition (in 1995), when Carmem Oliveira won.
Since 1993, a shorter race for children is held a few days before the main event (dubbed "São Silvestrinha", or "Little Saint Silvester" – a unisex
event).
Until 1988, the race took place at night, approaching the New Year's, but the year of 1989 saw substantial changes in the race's format, in order to comply with the rules of the IAAF. The time of the race was altered (to 3:00 p.m. for women and 5:00 p.m. for men), the course direction was reversed, and men and women, who used to run together, had their races separated. In 1991, the length of the race was extended to 15,000 meters (the distance for the event used to vary almost yearly, usually between 6.5 km and 8.8 km). This variance needed to be corrected in order to meet the requirements of the Federation of Athletics. The race was recognized internationally in that year of 1989.
In 2004, 13,000 men and 2,000 women participated in their respective events.
Although the event had been open since 1945, it would become a noteworthy affair in the international calendar only in 1953, when the most famous runner of the time (and arguably of all time), Emil Zátopek
, participated and won the race. In recent times, the foremost long distance runners of the last two decades (almost all of them, with the exception of Haile Gebrselassie
of Ethiopia
) have participated at least once in the event.
The principal winner of all times is now Paul Tergat
, of Kenya
, who has won the race 5 times (1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000). He also holds the record time for the present distance of 15 km, having won his very first race in São Paulo with a time of 43 minutes and 12 seconds.
The Saint Silvester Road Race (official name in ) is a long-distance running event, the oldest and most prestigious street race in Brazil
.
Regarded as the main international event in Latin American athletics, the Brazilian competition is held yearly in the city of São Paulo
on December 31. This day is Saint Silvester
's Day, as it is the day in which the Catholic
saint, who was a Pope
, died in the 4th century of the Christian Era.
São Paulo's race was originally known as a "marathon", although the course of the race, whose length has varied considerably over the years, was never that of a full marathon. Because of that, the organization eventually dropped the term "marathon", starting to refer to the event as a "race", "international race" or "road race". There was never an official effort on the part of the organization to address the change in the nomenclature, which causes many, including some media outlets, to continue using the term "Saint Silvester Marathon" when referring to the event. Its course is only 15 km (9.3 mi) long, less than half the length of a marathon but the race is made more difficult by the intense heat of the Brazilian summer and the geographical obstacles that have to be surmounted by the athletes.
Several other places like Amadora
and Porto
in Portugal
(Corrida de São Silvestre), Calderara di Reno
(Maratona di San Silvestro) and Bolzano (BOclassic
) in Italy
, and Madrid
in Spain
(San Silvestre Vallecana
), organize yearly Saint Silvester road races or marathons every late December.
The race was held for the first time on December 31, 1925. Unlike most events as old or older, it has not been interrupted or suspended even once during its history, not even for the duration of World War II.
Originally, it was intended for men only, and participation was restricted to citizens of the city of São Paulo. In the following years, runners from other parts of the country joined the race, but it was not until 1941 that a runner not from the city of São Paulo won the race: José Tibúrcio dos Santos, of Minas Gerais
, another Brazilian state. At that time, the event was not yet open to foreign participation. That meant that athletes from other countries could not come in to participate, but foreigners residing in the city of São Paulo (immigrants) were free to enroll. Because of this, Italian Heitor Blasi was the only foreigner to have won the race before 1947.
In 1945 the field was opened so that foreign runners could participate. The first international race was restricted to invited runners from South America, but the success of the first two "international events" led race organizers to open the event to the rest of the world in 1947. That year marked the beginning of a 34-year-long period during which no Brazilian man won the event, until José João da Silva, from Pernambuco
, won in 1980 (he would repeat the feat in 1985).
The event would remain a men-only affair until 1975, when the United Nations
declared that year as the International Year of Women. In commemoration of this, the race organizers held the women's race for the first time. The women's race started as an open event, and the first Brazilian victory would come only in its 20th edition (in 1995), when Carmem Oliveira won.
Since 1993, a shorter race for children is held a few days before the main event (dubbed "São Silvestrinha", or "Little Saint Silvester" – a unisex
event).
Until 1988, the race took place at night, approaching the New Year's, but the year of 1989 saw substantial changes in the race's format, in order to comply with the rules of the IAAF. The time of the race was altered (to 3:00 p.m. for women and 5:00 p.m. for men), the course direction was reversed, and men and women, who used to run together, had their races separated. In 1991, the length of the race was extended to 15,000 meters (the distance for the event used to vary almost yearly, usually between 6.5 km and 8.8 km). This variance needed to be corrected in order to meet the requirements of the Federation of Athletics. The race was recognized internationally in that year of 1989.
In 2004, 13,000 men and 2,000 women participated in their respective events.
Although the event had been open since 1945, it would become a noteworthy affair in the international calendar only in 1953, when the most famous runner of the time (and arguably of all time), Emil Zátopek
, participated and won the race. In recent times, the foremost long distance runners of the last two decades (almost all of them, with the exception of Haile Gebrselassie
of Ethiopia
) have participated at least once in the event.
The principal winner of all times is now Paul Tergat
, of Kenya
, who has won the race 5 times (1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000). He also holds the record time for the present distance of 15 km, having won his very first race in São Paulo with a time of 43 minutes and 12 seconds.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
Regarded as the main international event in Latin American athletics, the Brazilian competition is held yearly in the city of São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
on December 31. This day is Saint Silvester
Pope Silvester I
Pope Sylvester I was pope from 31 January 314 to 31 December 335, succeeding Pope Miltiades.He filled the See of Rome at a very important era in the history of the Catholic Church, but very little is known of him....
's Day, as it is the day in which the Catholic
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
saint, who was a Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
, died in the 4th century of the Christian Era.
São Paulo's race was originally known as a "marathon", although the course of the race, whose length has varied considerably over the years, was never that of a full marathon. Because of that, the organization eventually dropped the term "marathon", starting to refer to the event as a "race", "international race" or "road race". There was never an official effort on the part of the organization to address the change in the nomenclature, which causes many, including some media outlets, to continue using the term "Saint Silvester Marathon" when referring to the event. Its course is only 15 km (9.3 mi) long, less than half the length of a marathon but the race is made more difficult by the intense heat of the Brazilian summer and the geographical obstacles that have to be surmounted by the athletes.
Several other places like Amadora
Amadora
Amadora is a city and a municipality in Portugal, in the northwest of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. The city and municipality population is 175,872 in eleven freguesias . With an area of 23.77 km², it is the most densely populated municipality of Portugal...
and Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
(Corrida de São Silvestre), Calderara di Reno
Calderara di Reno
Calderara di Reno is a comune in the Province of Bologna in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 10 km northwest of Bologna....
(Maratona di San Silvestro) and Bolzano (BOclassic
BOclassic
The BOclassic is an annual road running competition over the distance of 10 kilometres for men and 5 kilometres for women. It is held on New Year's Eve in Bolzano, Italy. The competition has only elite races, competed between a limited number of runners, but over 10,000 spectators gather in the...
) in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(San Silvestre Vallecana
San Silvestre Vallecana
The San Silvestre Vallecana is an annual 10 km road race celebrated on December 31 in Madrid since 1964, in the borough of Vallecas, Spain. It is has two editions: a fun run for amateur athletes and an elite race for professional athletes....
), organize yearly Saint Silvester road races or marathons every late December.
History
Cásper Líbero, a "media millionaire" of the early 20th century Brazil, is credited with originally coming up with the idea for the race. He used it as a means of promoting his newspaper. In 1928, the year of the race's 4th edition, he founded one of the first sports newspapers of the country, the Gazeta Esportiva (the Sportive Gazette), which then became the race's official organizer and sponsor. The race would be the main advertising element of this sports newspaper.The race was held for the first time on December 31, 1925. Unlike most events as old or older, it has not been interrupted or suspended even once during its history, not even for the duration of World War II.
Originally, it was intended for men only, and participation was restricted to citizens of the city of São Paulo. In the following years, runners from other parts of the country joined the race, but it was not until 1941 that a runner not from the city of São Paulo won the race: José Tibúrcio dos Santos, of Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
, another Brazilian state. At that time, the event was not yet open to foreign participation. That meant that athletes from other countries could not come in to participate, but foreigners residing in the city of São Paulo (immigrants) were free to enroll. Because of this, Italian Heitor Blasi was the only foreigner to have won the race before 1947.
In 1945 the field was opened so that foreign runners could participate. The first international race was restricted to invited runners from South America, but the success of the first two "international events" led race organizers to open the event to the rest of the world in 1947. That year marked the beginning of a 34-year-long period during which no Brazilian man won the event, until José João da Silva, from Pernambuco
Pernambuco
Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...
, won in 1980 (he would repeat the feat in 1985).
The event would remain a men-only affair until 1975, when the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
declared that year as the International Year of Women. In commemoration of this, the race organizers held the women's race for the first time. The women's race started as an open event, and the first Brazilian victory would come only in its 20th edition (in 1995), when Carmem Oliveira won.
Since 1993, a shorter race for children is held a few days before the main event (dubbed "São Silvestrinha", or "Little Saint Silvester" – a unisex
Unisex
Unisex stands for the meaning that either gender or sex will be able to, but can also be another term for gender-blindness.The term was coined in the 1962 and was used fairly informally...
event).
Until 1988, the race took place at night, approaching the New Year's, but the year of 1989 saw substantial changes in the race's format, in order to comply with the rules of the IAAF. The time of the race was altered (to 3:00 p.m. for women and 5:00 p.m. for men), the course direction was reversed, and men and women, who used to run together, had their races separated. In 1991, the length of the race was extended to 15,000 meters (the distance for the event used to vary almost yearly, usually between 6.5 km and 8.8 km). This variance needed to be corrected in order to meet the requirements of the Federation of Athletics. The race was recognized internationally in that year of 1989.
Growth and prestige
For the first race, in 1925, 60 people filled applications to participate, but only 48 actually showed up on the day of the race. Of these, only 37 were officially qualified, since the rules then required that all runners had to finish within 3 minutes of the winner in order to qualify in the final board.In 2004, 13,000 men and 2,000 women participated in their respective events.
Although the event had been open since 1945, it would become a noteworthy affair in the international calendar only in 1953, when the most famous runner of the time (and arguably of all time), Emil Zátopek
Emil Zátopek
Emil Zátopek was a Czech long-distance runner best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He won gold in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres runs, but his final medal came when he decided at the last minute to compete in the first marathon of his life...
, participated and won the race. In recent times, the foremost long distance runners of the last two decades (almost all of them, with the exception of Haile Gebrselassie
Haile Gebrselassie
Haile Gebrselassie is an Ethiopian long-distance track and road running athlete. He won two Olympic gold medals over 10,000 metres and four World Championship titles in the event. He won the Berlin Marathon four times consecutively and also had three straight wins at the Dubai Marathon...
of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
) have participated at least once in the event.
The principal winner of all times is now Paul Tergat
Paul Tergat
Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many...
, of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, who has won the race 5 times (1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000). He also holds the record time for the present distance of 15 km, having won his very first race in São Paulo with a time of 43 minutes and 12 seconds.
Men
| Year | Athlete | Country | Time (m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... ) |
Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | Alfredo Gomes | 33:21 | 8.8 km | |
| 1926 | Jorge Mancebo | 22:35.3 | 6.2 km | |
| 1927 | Heitor Blasi | 23:00 | 6.2 km | |
| 1928 | Salim Maluf | 29:11.2 | 6.2 km | |
| 1929 | Heitor Blasi | 28:39.2 | 8.8 km | |
| 1930 | Murilo de Araújo | 25:35.2 | 8.8 km | |
| 1931 | José Agnello | 26:05.3 | 8.8 km | |
| 1932 | Nestor Gomes | 25:23.02 | 8.8 km | |
| 1933 | Nestor Gomes | 23:50.06 | 8.8 km | |
| 1934 | Alfredo Carletti | 24:10.2 | 7.6 km | |
| 1935 | Nestor Gomes | N/A | 7.6 km | |
| 1936 | Mario de Oliveira | 23:38.04 | 7.6 km | |
| 1937 | Mario de Oliveira | N/A | 7.6 km | |
| 1938 | Armando Martins | 23:38.4 | 7.6 km | |
| 1939 | Luiz Del Greco | 24:50.4 | 7.5 km | |
| 1940 | Antônio Alves | 22:14 | 7 km | |
| 1941 | José Tibúrcio dos Santos | 22:12 | 7 km | |
| 1942 | Joaquim Gonçalves da Silva | 17:02.06 | 5.5 km | |
| 1943 | Joaquim Gonçalves da Silva | N/A | 5.5 km | |
| 1944 | Joaquim Gonçalves da Silva | 17:40.02 | 5.5 km |
| Year | Athlete | Country | Time (m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... ) |
Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Sebastião Alves Monteiro | 21:54 | 7 km | |
| 1946 | Sebastião Alves Monteiro | 21:57 | 7 km | |
| 1947 | Oscar Moreira | 21:45 | 7 km | |
| 1948 | Raul Inostroza | 22:18.2 | 7 km | |
| 1949 | Viljo Heino | 22:45 | 7.3 km | |
| 1950 | Lucien Theys | 22:37.8 | 7.3 km | |
| 1951 | Erich Kruzicky | 22:26.5 | 7.3 km | |
| 1952 | Franjo Mihalić Franjo Mihalic Franjo Mihalić is a long-distance runner best known for his 1958 win at the Boston Marathon and his marathon silver medal in the 1956 Summer Olympics... |
21:38 | 7.3 km | |
| 1953 | Emil Zátopek Emil Zátopek Emil Zátopek was a Czech long-distance runner best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He won gold in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres runs, but his final medal came when he decided at the last minute to compete in the first marathon of his life... |
20:30 | 7.3 km | |
| 1954 | Franjo Mihalic | 23:00 | 7.3 km | |
| 1955 | Kenneth Norris | 22:18 | 7.4 km | |
| 1956 | Manoel Faria | 21:58.9 | 7.4 km | |
| 1957 | Manoel Faria | 21:37.4 | 7.4 km | |
| 1958 | Osvaldo Suarez | 21:40.3 | 7.4 km | |
| 1959 | Osvaldo Suarez | 21:55.8 | 7.4 km | |
| 1960 | Osvaldo Suarez | 22:2.1 | 7.4 km | |
| 1961 | Martin Hyman | 21:24.7 | 7.4 km | |
| 1962 | Hamoud Ameur | 22:08.5 | 7.4 km | |
| 1963 | Henry Clerckx | N/A | 7.4 km | |
| 1964 | Gaston Roelants Gaston Roelants Gaston, Baron Roelants was a top steeplechaser in the early 1960s and a great cross-country runner. At the steeplechase he won the 1962 European and 1964 Olympic titles as well as setting two world records, 8 minutes 29.6 seconds in 1963 and 8 minutes 26.4 seconds in 1965.Roelants was born in... |
21:37.7 | 7.4 km | |
| 1965 | Gaston Roelants | 21:20.1 | 7.4 km | |
| 1966 | Alvaro Mejia Flores | 29:57.7 | 9.2 km | |
| 1967 | Gaston Roelants | 24:55 | 8.7 km | |
| 1968 | Gaston Roelants | 24:32 | 8.7 km | |
| 1969 | Juan Martínez Juan Máximo Martínez Juan Máximo Martínez is a long-distance runner from Mexico. He won the gold medal in the men's 10,000 metres at the 1970 Central American and Caribbean Games, and twice competed for his native country at the Summer Olympics: in 1968 and 1972. In 1968, at the Mexico City Olympics, he finished in... |
24:02.3 | 8.7 km | |
| 1970 | Frank Shorter Frank Shorter Frank Charles Shorter is a former American long-distance runner who won the gold medal in the marathon at the 1972 Summer Olympics. His victory is credited with igniting the running boom in the United States of the 1970s.... |
24:27.4 | 8.9 km | |
| 1971 | Rafael Tadeo Palomares | 23:47.8 | 8.7 km | |
| 1972 | Victor Mora | 23:24.2 | 8.7 km | |
| 1973 | Victor Mora | 23:25 | 8.7 km | |
| 1974 | Rafael Angel Perez | 23:58 | 8.9 km | |
| 1975 | Victor Mora | 23:13 | 8.9 km | |
| 1976 | Edmundo Warnke | 23:50.8 | 8.9 km | |
| 1977 | Domingo Tibaduiza | 23:55 | 8.9 km | |
| 1978 | Radhouane Bouster | 23:51.6 | 8.9 km | |
| 1979 | Herb Lindsay | 23:26.5 | 8.9 km | |
| 1980 | José João da Silva | 23:40 | 8.9 km | |
| 1981 | Victor Mora | 23:30.2 | 8.9 km | |
| 1982 | Carlos Lopes | 39:41.05 | 13.548 km | |
| 1983 | João da Mata | 37:39.19 | 12.6 km | |
| 1984 | Carlos Lopes | 36:43.79 | 12.6 km | |
| 1985 | José João da Silva | N/A | 12.6 km | |
| 1986 | Rolando Vera Rolando Vera (athlete) Rolando Patricio Vera Rodas is a retired long-distance runner from Ecuador, who represented his native country at three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1988. He reached the top ten of the 10,000 metres at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics... |
36:45 | 12.640 km | |
| 1987 | Rolando Vera | 39:02.56 | 13.040 km | |
| 1988 | Rolando Vera | 36:23 | 13.040 km | |
| 1989 | Rolando Vera | 36:45 | 13.040 km | |
| 1990 | Arturo Barrios Arturo Barrios Arturo Barrios Flores is a Mexican long-distance runner. He was born in Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal. Barrios finished in fifth place in the 10000 metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He is a former world record holder at 10000 m... |
35:57 | 12.640 km | |
| 1991 | Arturo Barrios | 44:47 | 15 km | |
| 1992 | Simon Chemwoyo | 44:08 | 15 km | |
| 1993 | Simon Chemwoyo | 43:20 | 15 km | |
| 1994 | Ronaldo da Costa Ronaldo da Costa Ronaldo da Costa broke the ten-year-old marathon world record in 1998 in Berlin. The record was previously held by Belayneh Densamo from Ethiopia at the Rotterdam Marathon in April, 1988... |
44:11 | 15 km | |
| 1995 | Paul Tergat Paul Tergat Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many... |
43:12 | 15 km | |
| 1996 | Paul Tergat Paul Tergat Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many... |
N/A | 15 km | |
| 1997 | Émerson Iser Bem | 44:40 | 15 km | |
| 1998 74th Saint Silvester Marathon The 74th Saint Silvester Marathon, or Race , was held in São Paulo, Brazil, on December 31, 1998... |
Paul Tergat Paul Tergat Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many... |
44:47 | 15 km | |
| 1999 | Paul Tergat Paul Tergat Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many... |
44:35 | 15 km | |
| 2000 | Paul Tergat Paul Tergat Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many... |
43:57 | 15 km | |
| 2001 | Tesfaye Jifar Tesfaye Jifar Tesfaye Jifar born April 23, 1976) is a male Ethiopian long-distance runner.Jifar won the New York City Marathon in 2001, his time 2:07:43 remains the course record. The same year he was second at the Tokyo Marathon and won the Saint Silvester Marathon held in Brazil... |
44:15 | 15 km | |
| 2002 | Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Robert "Mwafrika" Kipkoech Cheruiyot , sometimes known as Omar Ahmed, is a Kenyan marathon runner and is the former record holder and four-time winner of the Boston Marathon.- Early career :... |
44:59 | 15 km | |
| 2003 | Marílson Gomes dos Santos Marílson Gomes dos Santos Marílson Gomes dos Santos is a Brazilian long-distance runner and winner of the 2006 and 2008 New York City Marathon, with times of 2:09:58 and 2:08:43, respectively... |
43:50 | 15 km | |
| 2004 | Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Robert "Mwafrika" Kipkoech Cheruiyot , sometimes known as Omar Ahmed, is a Kenyan marathon runner and is the former record holder and four-time winner of the Boston Marathon.- Early career :... |
44:43 | 15 km | |
| 2005 81st Saint Silvester Marathon The 81st Saint Silvester Marathon, or Race , was held in São Paulo, Brazil, on December 31, 2005... |
Marílson Gomes dos Santos Marílson Gomes dos Santos Marílson Gomes dos Santos is a Brazilian long-distance runner and winner of the 2006 and 2008 New York City Marathon, with times of 2:09:58 and 2:08:43, respectively... |
44:21 | 15 km | |
| 2006 | Franck Caldeira Franck Caldeira Franck Caldeira de Almeida is a marathon athlete from Brazil. He won the gold medal in the men's marathon at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the worldwide famous São Silvestre Road Race, in São Paulo, 2006.-References:... |
44:06 | 15 km | |
| 2007 | Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Robert "Mwafrika" Kipkoech Cheruiyot , sometimes known as Omar Ahmed, is a Kenyan marathon runner and is the former record holder and four-time winner of the Boston Marathon.- Early career :... |
45:57 | 15 km | |
| 2008 | James Kipsang Kwambai | 44:42 | 15 km | |
| 2009 | James Kipsang Kwambai | 44:40 | 15 | |
| 2010 | Marílson Gomes dos Santos Marílson Gomes dos Santos Marílson Gomes dos Santos is a Brazilian long-distance runner and winner of the 2006 and 2008 New York City Marathon, with times of 2:09:58 and 2:08:43, respectively... |
44:07 | 15 km |
Women
| Year | Athlete | Country | Time (m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... ) |
Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Christa Vahlensieck | 28:39 | 8.9 km | |
| 1976 | Christa Vahlensieck | 28:36.02 | 8.9 km | |
| 1977 | Loa Olafsson | 27:15 | 8.9 km | |
| 1978 | Dana Slater | N/A | 8.9 km | |
| 1979 | Dana Slater | 29:07.5 | 8.9 km | |
| 1980 | Heidi Hutterer | 27:48.4 | 8.9 km | |
| 1981 | Rosa Mota Rosa Mota Rosa Maria Correia dos Santos Mota, GCIH, GCM is a Portuguese former marathon runner, one of her country's foremost athletes. She is also considered to have been one of the best marathon runners of the 20th century.... |
26:45.8 | 8.9 km | |
| 1982 | Rosa Mota | 47:21 | 13 km | |
| 1983 | Rosa Mota | 43:41.59 | 12 km | |
| 1984 | Rosa Mota | 43:35.57 | 12 km | |
| 1985 | Rosa Mota | 43:00.85 | 12 km | |
| 1986 | Rosa Mota | 43:25 | 12 km | |
| 1987 | Martha Thenório | 46:27 | 13 km | |
| 1988 | Aurora Cunha | 42:12.7 | 12.640 km | |
| 1989 | Maria Del Carmen Diaz | 43:52 | 12.640 km | |
| 1990 | Maria Del Carmen Diaz | N/A | 12.640 km | |
| 1991 | Maria Luisa Servin | 54:02 | 15 km | |
| 1992 | Maria Del Carmen Diaz | 53:52 | 12.640 km | |
| 1993 | Helen Kimaiyo-Kipkoskei Hellen Kimaiyo Hellen Kimaiyo Kipkoskei is a retired runner from Kenya.She won many continental competitions. She competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics aged less than 16 and at the 1992 Summer Olympics. She is also a multiple Kenyan champion.In addition, she was a successful road runner... |
50:26 | 15 km | |
| 1994 | Derartu Tulu Derartu Tulu Derartu Tulu is an Ethiopian long distance track, road and marathon athlete.Derartu , a member of the Oromo ethnic group, grew up tending cattle in the village of Bekoji in the highlands of Arsi Province... |
51:17 | 15 km | |
| 1995 | Carmem Oliveira | 50:53 | 15 km | |
| 1996 | Roseli Machado | 52:32 | 15 km | |
| 1997 | Martha Thenório | 52:04 | 15 km | |
| 1998 74th Saint Silvester Marathon The 74th Saint Silvester Marathon, or Race , was held in São Paulo, Brazil, on December 31, 1998... |
Olivera Jevtić Olivera Jevtic Olivera Jevtić is a Serbian long-distance runner. She is based in her native city of Užice, Serbia. Jevtić's coach is Slavko Kuzmanović, and she competes for the running club "Mladost"... |
51:35 | 15 km | |
| 1999 | Lydia Cheromei Lydia Cheromei Lydia Cheromei is a Kenyan athlete. She specializes in long distance running. She rose to fame at the age of thirteen with a win in the junior race at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships... |
51:29 | 15 km | |
| 2000 | Lydia Cheromei | 50:33 | 15 km | |
| 2001 | Maria Zeferina Baldaia | 52:12 | 15 km | |
| 2002 | Marizete de Paula Rezende | 54:02 | 15 km | |
| 2003 | Margaret Okayo Margaret Okayo Margaret Okayo is a professional marathon runner from Kenya. She has won a number of major marathons, including the New York City Marathon , the Boston Marathon, and the London Marathon. She has also won the San Diego Marathon on two occasions.Okayo started running while at primary school... |
51:24 | 15 km | |
| 2004 | Lydia Cheromei | 53:01 | 15 km | |
| 2005 81st Saint Silvester Marathon The 81st Saint Silvester Marathon, or Race , was held in São Paulo, Brazil, on December 31, 2005... |
Olivera Jevtić Olivera Jevtic Olivera Jevtić is a Serbian long-distance runner. She is based in her native city of Užice, Serbia. Jevtić's coach is Slavko Kuzmanović, and she competes for the running club "Mladost"... |
51:38 | 15 km | |
| 2006 | Lucélia Peres | 51:24 | 15 km | |
| 2007 | Alice Timbilili Alice Timbilili Alice Jemeli Timbilil is a Kenyan professional long-distance runner. She is a two-time Olympian, having competed over 10,000 metres at both the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics.... |
53:07 | 15 km | |
| 2008 | Yimer Wude Ayalew | 51:37 | 15 km | |
| 2009 | Pasalia Kipkoech Chepkorir | 52:32 | 15 km | |
| 2010 | Alice Timbilili Alice Timbilili Alice Jemeli Timbilil is a Kenyan professional long-distance runner. She is a two-time Olympian, having competed over 10,000 metres at both the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics.... |
50:19 | 15 km |
Titles by country
| Country | Men's | Women's | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28(1) | 5 | 33 | |
| 12 | 8 | 20 | |
| 4 | 7 | 11 | |
| 4 | 5 | 9 | |
| 6 | 0 | 6 | |
| 6 | 0 | 6 | |
| 4 | 2 | 6 | |
| 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2(2) | 0 | 2 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 0 | 1 | 1 |
The Saint Silvester Road Race (official name in ) is a long-distance running event, the oldest and most prestigious street race in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
Regarded as the main international event in Latin American athletics, the Brazilian competition is held yearly in the city of São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
on December 31. This day is Saint Silvester
Pope Silvester I
Pope Sylvester I was pope from 31 January 314 to 31 December 335, succeeding Pope Miltiades.He filled the See of Rome at a very important era in the history of the Catholic Church, but very little is known of him....
's Day, as it is the day in which the Catholic
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
saint, who was a Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
, died in the 4th century of the Christian Era.
São Paulo's race was originally known as a "marathon", although the course of the race, whose length has varied considerably over the years, was never that of a full marathon. Because of that, the organization eventually dropped the term "marathon", starting to refer to the event as a "race", "international race" or "road race". There was never an official effort on the part of the organization to address the change in the nomenclature, which causes many, including some media outlets, to continue using the term "Saint Silvester Marathon" when referring to the event. Its course is only 15 km (9.3 mi) long, less than half the length of a marathon but the race is made more difficult by the intense heat of the Brazilian summer and the geographical obstacles that have to be surmounted by the athletes.
Several other places like Amadora
Amadora
Amadora is a city and a municipality in Portugal, in the northwest of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. The city and municipality population is 175,872 in eleven freguesias . With an area of 23.77 km², it is the most densely populated municipality of Portugal...
and Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
(Corrida de São Silvestre), Calderara di Reno
Calderara di Reno
Calderara di Reno is a comune in the Province of Bologna in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 10 km northwest of Bologna....
(Maratona di San Silvestro) and Bolzano (BOclassic
BOclassic
The BOclassic is an annual road running competition over the distance of 10 kilometres for men and 5 kilometres for women. It is held on New Year's Eve in Bolzano, Italy. The competition has only elite races, competed between a limited number of runners, but over 10,000 spectators gather in the...
) in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(San Silvestre Vallecana
San Silvestre Vallecana
The San Silvestre Vallecana is an annual 10 km road race celebrated on December 31 in Madrid since 1964, in the borough of Vallecas, Spain. It is has two editions: a fun run for amateur athletes and an elite race for professional athletes....
), organize yearly Saint Silvester road races or marathons every late December.
History
Cásper Líbero, a "media millionaire" of the early 20th century Brazil, is credited with originally coming up with the idea for the race. He used it as a means of promoting his newspaper. In 1928, the year of the race's 4th edition, he founded one of the first sports newspapers of the country, the Gazeta Esportiva (the Sportive Gazette), which then became the race's official organizer and sponsor. The race would be the main advertising element of this sports newspaper.The race was held for the first time on December 31, 1925. Unlike most events as old or older, it has not been interrupted or suspended even once during its history, not even for the duration of World War II.
Originally, it was intended for men only, and participation was restricted to citizens of the city of São Paulo. In the following years, runners from other parts of the country joined the race, but it was not until 1941 that a runner not from the city of São Paulo won the race: José Tibúrcio dos Santos, of Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
, another Brazilian state. At that time, the event was not yet open to foreign participation. That meant that athletes from other countries could not come in to participate, but foreigners residing in the city of São Paulo (immigrants) were free to enroll. Because of this, Italian Heitor Blasi was the only foreigner to have won the race before 1947.
In 1945 the field was opened so that foreign runners could participate. The first international race was restricted to invited runners from South America, but the success of the first two "international events" led race organizers to open the event to the rest of the world in 1947. That year marked the beginning of a 34-year-long period during which no Brazilian man won the event, until José João da Silva, from Pernambuco
Pernambuco
Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...
, won in 1980 (he would repeat the feat in 1985).
The event would remain a men-only affair until 1975, when the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
declared that year as the International Year of Women. In commemoration of this, the race organizers held the women's race for the first time. The women's race started as an open event, and the first Brazilian victory would come only in its 20th edition (in 1995), when Carmem Oliveira won.
Since 1993, a shorter race for children is held a few days before the main event (dubbed "São Silvestrinha", or "Little Saint Silvester" – a unisex
Unisex
Unisex stands for the meaning that either gender or sex will be able to, but can also be another term for gender-blindness.The term was coined in the 1962 and was used fairly informally...
event).
Until 1988, the race took place at night, approaching the New Year's, but the year of 1989 saw substantial changes in the race's format, in order to comply with the rules of the IAAF. The time of the race was altered (to 3:00 p.m. for women and 5:00 p.m. for men), the course direction was reversed, and men and women, who used to run together, had their races separated. In 1991, the length of the race was extended to 15,000 meters (the distance for the event used to vary almost yearly, usually between 6.5 km and 8.8 km). This variance needed to be corrected in order to meet the requirements of the Federation of Athletics. The race was recognized internationally in that year of 1989.
Growth and prestige
For the first race, in 1925, 60 people filled applications to participate, but only 48 actually showed up on the day of the race. Of these, only 37 were officially qualified, since the rules then required that all runners had to finish within 3 minutes of the winner in order to qualify in the final board.In 2004, 13,000 men and 2,000 women participated in their respective events.
Although the event had been open since 1945, it would become a noteworthy affair in the international calendar only in 1953, when the most famous runner of the time (and arguably of all time), Emil Zátopek
Emil Zátopek
Emil Zátopek was a Czech long-distance runner best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He won gold in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres runs, but his final medal came when he decided at the last minute to compete in the first marathon of his life...
, participated and won the race. In recent times, the foremost long distance runners of the last two decades (almost all of them, with the exception of Haile Gebrselassie
Haile Gebrselassie
Haile Gebrselassie is an Ethiopian long-distance track and road running athlete. He won two Olympic gold medals over 10,000 metres and four World Championship titles in the event. He won the Berlin Marathon four times consecutively and also had three straight wins at the Dubai Marathon...
of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
) have participated at least once in the event.
The principal winner of all times is now Paul Tergat
Paul Tergat
Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many...
, of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, who has won the race 5 times (1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000). He also holds the record time for the present distance of 15 km, having won his very first race in São Paulo with a time of 43 minutes and 12 seconds.
Men
| Year | Athlete | Country | Time (m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... ) |
Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | Alfredo Gomes | 33:21 | 8.8 km | |
| 1926 | Jorge Mancebo | 22:35.3 | 6.2 km | |
| 1927 | Heitor Blasi | 23:00 | 6.2 km | |
| 1928 | Salim Maluf | 29:11.2 | 6.2 km | |
| 1929 | Heitor Blasi | 28:39.2 | 8.8 km | |
| 1930 | Murilo de Araújo | 25:35.2 | 8.8 km | |
| 1931 | José Agnello | 26:05.3 | 8.8 km | |
| 1932 | Nestor Gomes | 25:23.02 | 8.8 km | |
| 1933 | Nestor Gomes | 23:50.06 | 8.8 km | |
| 1934 | Alfredo Carletti | 24:10.2 | 7.6 km | |
| 1935 | Nestor Gomes | N/A | 7.6 km | |
| 1936 | Mario de Oliveira | 23:38.04 | 7.6 km | |
| 1937 | Mario de Oliveira | N/A | 7.6 km | |
| 1938 | Armando Martins | 23:38.4 | 7.6 km | |
| 1939 | Luiz Del Greco | 24:50.4 | 7.5 km | |
| 1940 | Antônio Alves | 22:14 | 7 km | |
| 1941 | José Tibúrcio dos Santos | 22:12 | 7 km | |
| 1942 | Joaquim Gonçalves da Silva | 17:02.06 | 5.5 km | |
| 1943 | Joaquim Gonçalves da Silva | N/A | 5.5 km | |
| 1944 | Joaquim Gonçalves da Silva | 17:40.02 | 5.5 km |
| Year | Athlete | Country | Time (m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... ) |
Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Sebastião Alves Monteiro | 21:54 | 7 km | |
| 1946 | Sebastião Alves Monteiro | 21:57 | 7 km | |
| 1947 | Oscar Moreira | 21:45 | 7 km | |
| 1948 | Raul Inostroza | 22:18.2 | 7 km | |
| 1949 | Viljo Heino | 22:45 | 7.3 km | |
| 1950 | Lucien Theys | 22:37.8 | 7.3 km | |
| 1951 | Erich Kruzicky | 22:26.5 | 7.3 km | |
| 1952 | Franjo Mihalić Franjo Mihalic Franjo Mihalić is a long-distance runner best known for his 1958 win at the Boston Marathon and his marathon silver medal in the 1956 Summer Olympics... |
21:38 | 7.3 km | |
| 1953 | Emil Zátopek Emil Zátopek Emil Zátopek was a Czech long-distance runner best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He won gold in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres runs, but his final medal came when he decided at the last minute to compete in the first marathon of his life... |
20:30 | 7.3 km | |
| 1954 | Franjo Mihalic | 23:00 | 7.3 km | |
| 1955 | Kenneth Norris | 22:18 | 7.4 km | |
| 1956 | Manoel Faria | 21:58.9 | 7.4 km | |
| 1957 | Manoel Faria | 21:37.4 | 7.4 km | |
| 1958 | Osvaldo Suarez | 21:40.3 | 7.4 km | |
| 1959 | Osvaldo Suarez | 21:55.8 | 7.4 km | |
| 1960 | Osvaldo Suarez | 22:2.1 | 7.4 km | |
| 1961 | Martin Hyman | 21:24.7 | 7.4 km | |
| 1962 | Hamoud Ameur | 22:08.5 | 7.4 km | |
| 1963 | Henry Clerckx | N/A | 7.4 km | |
| 1964 | Gaston Roelants Gaston Roelants Gaston, Baron Roelants was a top steeplechaser in the early 1960s and a great cross-country runner. At the steeplechase he won the 1962 European and 1964 Olympic titles as well as setting two world records, 8 minutes 29.6 seconds in 1963 and 8 minutes 26.4 seconds in 1965.Roelants was born in... |
21:37.7 | 7.4 km | |
| 1965 | Gaston Roelants | 21:20.1 | 7.4 km | |
| 1966 | Alvaro Mejia Flores | 29:57.7 | 9.2 km | |
| 1967 | Gaston Roelants | 24:55 | 8.7 km | |
| 1968 | Gaston Roelants | 24:32 | 8.7 km | |
| 1969 | Juan Martínez Juan Máximo Martínez Juan Máximo Martínez is a long-distance runner from Mexico. He won the gold medal in the men's 10,000 metres at the 1970 Central American and Caribbean Games, and twice competed for his native country at the Summer Olympics: in 1968 and 1972. In 1968, at the Mexico City Olympics, he finished in... |
24:02.3 | 8.7 km | |
| 1970 | Frank Shorter Frank Shorter Frank Charles Shorter is a former American long-distance runner who won the gold medal in the marathon at the 1972 Summer Olympics. His victory is credited with igniting the running boom in the United States of the 1970s.... |
24:27.4 | 8.9 km | |
| 1971 | Rafael Tadeo Palomares | 23:47.8 | 8.7 km | |
| 1972 | Victor Mora | 23:24.2 | 8.7 km | |
| 1973 | Victor Mora | 23:25 | 8.7 km | |
| 1974 | Rafael Angel Perez | 23:58 | 8.9 km | |
| 1975 | Victor Mora | 23:13 | 8.9 km | |
| 1976 | Edmundo Warnke | 23:50.8 | 8.9 km | |
| 1977 | Domingo Tibaduiza | 23:55 | 8.9 km | |
| 1978 | Radhouane Bouster | 23:51.6 | 8.9 km | |
| 1979 | Herb Lindsay | 23:26.5 | 8.9 km | |
| 1980 | José João da Silva | 23:40 | 8.9 km | |
| 1981 | Victor Mora | 23:30.2 | 8.9 km | |
| 1982 | Carlos Lopes | 39:41.05 | 13.548 km | |
| 1983 | João da Mata | 37:39.19 | 12.6 km | |
| 1984 | Carlos Lopes | 36:43.79 | 12.6 km | |
| 1985 | José João da Silva | N/A | 12.6 km | |
| 1986 | Rolando Vera Rolando Vera (athlete) Rolando Patricio Vera Rodas is a retired long-distance runner from Ecuador, who represented his native country at three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1988. He reached the top ten of the 10,000 metres at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics... |
36:45 | 12.640 km | |
| 1987 | Rolando Vera | 39:02.56 | 13.040 km | |
| 1988 | Rolando Vera | 36:23 | 13.040 km | |
| 1989 | Rolando Vera | 36:45 | 13.040 km | |
| 1990 | Arturo Barrios Arturo Barrios Arturo Barrios Flores is a Mexican long-distance runner. He was born in Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal. Barrios finished in fifth place in the 10000 metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He is a former world record holder at 10000 m... |
35:57 | 12.640 km | |
| 1991 | Arturo Barrios | 44:47 | 15 km | |
| 1992 | Simon Chemwoyo | 44:08 | 15 km | |
| 1993 | Simon Chemwoyo | 43:20 | 15 km | |
| 1994 | Ronaldo da Costa Ronaldo da Costa Ronaldo da Costa broke the ten-year-old marathon world record in 1998 in Berlin. The record was previously held by Belayneh Densamo from Ethiopia at the Rotterdam Marathon in April, 1988... |
44:11 | 15 km | |
| 1995 | Paul Tergat Paul Tergat Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many... |
43:12 | 15 km | |
| 1996 | Paul Tergat Paul Tergat Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many... |
N/A | 15 km | |
| 1997 | Émerson Iser Bem | 44:40 | 15 km | |
| 1998 74th Saint Silvester Marathon The 74th Saint Silvester Marathon, or Race , was held in São Paulo, Brazil, on December 31, 1998... |
Paul Tergat Paul Tergat Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many... |
44:47 | 15 km | |
| 1999 | Paul Tergat Paul Tergat Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many... |
44:35 | 15 km | |
| 2000 | Paul Tergat Paul Tergat Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many... |
43:57 | 15 km | |
| 2001 | Tesfaye Jifar Tesfaye Jifar Tesfaye Jifar born April 23, 1976) is a male Ethiopian long-distance runner.Jifar won the New York City Marathon in 2001, his time 2:07:43 remains the course record. The same year he was second at the Tokyo Marathon and won the Saint Silvester Marathon held in Brazil... |
44:15 | 15 km | |
| 2002 | Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Robert "Mwafrika" Kipkoech Cheruiyot , sometimes known as Omar Ahmed, is a Kenyan marathon runner and is the former record holder and four-time winner of the Boston Marathon.- Early career :... |
44:59 | 15 km | |
| 2003 | Marílson Gomes dos Santos Marílson Gomes dos Santos Marílson Gomes dos Santos is a Brazilian long-distance runner and winner of the 2006 and 2008 New York City Marathon, with times of 2:09:58 and 2:08:43, respectively... |
43:50 | 15 km | |
| 2004 | Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Robert "Mwafrika" Kipkoech Cheruiyot , sometimes known as Omar Ahmed, is a Kenyan marathon runner and is the former record holder and four-time winner of the Boston Marathon.- Early career :... |
44:43 | 15 km | |
| 2005 81st Saint Silvester Marathon The 81st Saint Silvester Marathon, or Race , was held in São Paulo, Brazil, on December 31, 2005... |
Marílson Gomes dos Santos Marílson Gomes dos Santos Marílson Gomes dos Santos is a Brazilian long-distance runner and winner of the 2006 and 2008 New York City Marathon, with times of 2:09:58 and 2:08:43, respectively... |
44:21 | 15 km | |
| 2006 | Franck Caldeira Franck Caldeira Franck Caldeira de Almeida is a marathon athlete from Brazil. He won the gold medal in the men's marathon at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the worldwide famous São Silvestre Road Race, in São Paulo, 2006.-References:... |
44:06 | 15 km | |
| 2007 | Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Robert "Mwafrika" Kipkoech Cheruiyot , sometimes known as Omar Ahmed, is a Kenyan marathon runner and is the former record holder and four-time winner of the Boston Marathon.- Early career :... |
45:57 | 15 km | |
| 2008 | James Kipsang Kwambai | 44:42 | 15 km | |
| 2009 | James Kipsang Kwambai | 44:40 | 15 | |
| 2010 | Marílson Gomes dos Santos Marílson Gomes dos Santos Marílson Gomes dos Santos is a Brazilian long-distance runner and winner of the 2006 and 2008 New York City Marathon, with times of 2:09:58 and 2:08:43, respectively... |
44:07 | 15 km |
Women
| Year | Athlete | Country | Time (m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... ) |
Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Christa Vahlensieck | 28:39 | 8.9 km | |
| 1976 | Christa Vahlensieck | 28:36.02 | 8.9 km | |
| 1977 | Loa Olafsson | 27:15 | 8.9 km | |
| 1978 | Dana Slater | N/A | 8.9 km | |
| 1979 | Dana Slater | 29:07.5 | 8.9 km | |
| 1980 | Heidi Hutterer | 27:48.4 | 8.9 km | |
| 1981 | Rosa Mota Rosa Mota Rosa Maria Correia dos Santos Mota, GCIH, GCM is a Portuguese former marathon runner, one of her country's foremost athletes. She is also considered to have been one of the best marathon runners of the 20th century.... |
26:45.8 | 8.9 km | |
| 1982 | Rosa Mota | 47:21 | 13 km | |
| 1983 | Rosa Mota | 43:41.59 | 12 km | |
| 1984 | Rosa Mota | 43:35.57 | 12 km | |
| 1985 | Rosa Mota | 43:00.85 | 12 km | |
| 1986 | Rosa Mota | 43:25 | 12 km | |
| 1987 | Martha Thenório | 46:27 | 13 km | |
| 1988 | Aurora Cunha | 42:12.7 | 12.640 km | |
| 1989 | Maria Del Carmen Diaz | 43:52 | 12.640 km | |
| 1990 | Maria Del Carmen Diaz | N/A | 12.640 km | |
| 1991 | Maria Luisa Servin | 54:02 | 15 km | |
| 1992 | Maria Del Carmen Diaz | 53:52 | 12.640 km | |
| 1993 | Helen Kimaiyo-Kipkoskei Hellen Kimaiyo Hellen Kimaiyo Kipkoskei is a retired runner from Kenya.She won many continental competitions. She competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics aged less than 16 and at the 1992 Summer Olympics. She is also a multiple Kenyan champion.In addition, she was a successful road runner... |
50:26 | 15 km | |
| 1994 | Derartu Tulu Derartu Tulu Derartu Tulu is an Ethiopian long distance track, road and marathon athlete.Derartu , a member of the Oromo ethnic group, grew up tending cattle in the village of Bekoji in the highlands of Arsi Province... |
51:17 | 15 km | |
| 1995 | Carmem Oliveira | 50:53 | 15 km | |
| 1996 | Roseli Machado | 52:32 | 15 km | |
| 1997 | Martha Thenório | 52:04 | 15 km | |
| 1998 74th Saint Silvester Marathon The 74th Saint Silvester Marathon, or Race , was held in São Paulo, Brazil, on December 31, 1998... |
Olivera Jevtić Olivera Jevtic Olivera Jevtić is a Serbian long-distance runner. She is based in her native city of Užice, Serbia. Jevtić's coach is Slavko Kuzmanović, and she competes for the running club "Mladost"... |
51:35 | 15 km | |
| 1999 | Lydia Cheromei Lydia Cheromei Lydia Cheromei is a Kenyan athlete. She specializes in long distance running. She rose to fame at the age of thirteen with a win in the junior race at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships... |
51:29 | 15 km | |
| 2000 | Lydia Cheromei | 50:33 | 15 km | |
| 2001 | Maria Zeferina Baldaia | 52:12 | 15 km | |
| 2002 | Marizete de Paula Rezende | 54:02 | 15 km | |
| 2003 | Margaret Okayo Margaret Okayo Margaret Okayo is a professional marathon runner from Kenya. She has won a number of major marathons, including the New York City Marathon , the Boston Marathon, and the London Marathon. She has also won the San Diego Marathon on two occasions.Okayo started running while at primary school... |
51:24 | 15 km | |
| 2004 | Lydia Cheromei | 53:01 | 15 km | |
| 2005 81st Saint Silvester Marathon The 81st Saint Silvester Marathon, or Race , was held in São Paulo, Brazil, on December 31, 2005... |
Olivera Jevtić Olivera Jevtic Olivera Jevtić is a Serbian long-distance runner. She is based in her native city of Užice, Serbia. Jevtić's coach is Slavko Kuzmanović, and she competes for the running club "Mladost"... |
51:38 | 15 km | |
| 2006 | Lucélia Peres | 51:24 | 15 km | |
| 2007 | Alice Timbilili Alice Timbilili Alice Jemeli Timbilil is a Kenyan professional long-distance runner. She is a two-time Olympian, having competed over 10,000 metres at both the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics.... |
53:07 | 15 km | |
| 2008 | Yimer Wude Ayalew | 51:37 | 15 km | |
| 2009 | Pasalia Kipkoech Chepkorir | 52:32 | 15 km | |
| 2010 | Alice Timbilili Alice Timbilili Alice Jemeli Timbilil is a Kenyan professional long-distance runner. She is a two-time Olympian, having competed over 10,000 metres at both the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics.... |
50:19 | 15 km |
Titles by country
| Country | Men's | Women's | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28(1) | 5 | 33 | |
| 12 | 8 | 20 | |
| 4 | 7 | 11 | |
| 4 | 5 | 9 | |
| 6 | 0 | 6 | |
| 6 | 0 | 6 | |
| 4 | 2 | 6 | |
| 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2(2) | 0 | 2 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 0 | 1 | 1 |
1 Brazil
ians won 17 times in the national era, and 11 times in the international era.
The Saint Silvester Road Race (official name in ) is a long-distance running event, the oldest and most prestigious street race in Brazil
.
Regarded as the main international event in Latin American athletics, the Brazilian competition is held yearly in the city of São Paulo
on December 31. This day is Saint Silvester
's Day, as it is the day in which the Catholic
saint, who was a Pope
, died in the 4th century of the Christian Era.
São Paulo's race was originally known as a "marathon", although the course of the race, whose length has varied considerably over the years, was never that of a full marathon. Because of that, the organization eventually dropped the term "marathon", starting to refer to the event as a "race", "international race" or "road race". There was never an official effort on the part of the organization to address the change in the nomenclature, which causes many, including some media outlets, to continue using the term "Saint Silvester Marathon" when referring to the event. Its course is only 15 km (9.3 mi) long, less than half the length of a marathon but the race is made more difficult by the intense heat of the Brazilian summer and the geographical obstacles that have to be surmounted by the athletes.
Several other places like Amadora
and Porto
in Portugal
(Corrida de São Silvestre), Calderara di Reno
(Maratona di San Silvestro) and Bolzano (BOclassic
) in Italy
, and Madrid
in Spain
(San Silvestre Vallecana
), organize yearly Saint Silvester road races or marathons every late December.
The race was held for the first time on December 31, 1925. Unlike most events as old or older, it has not been interrupted or suspended even once during its history, not even for the duration of World War II.
Originally, it was intended for men only, and participation was restricted to citizens of the city of São Paulo. In the following years, runners from other parts of the country joined the race, but it was not until 1941 that a runner not from the city of São Paulo won the race: José Tibúrcio dos Santos, of Minas Gerais
, another Brazilian state. At that time, the event was not yet open to foreign participation. That meant that athletes from other countries could not come in to participate, but foreigners residing in the city of São Paulo (immigrants) were free to enroll. Because of this, Italian Heitor Blasi was the only foreigner to have won the race before 1947.
In 1945 the field was opened so that foreign runners could participate. The first international race was restricted to invited runners from South America, but the success of the first two "international events" led race organizers to open the event to the rest of the world in 1947. That year marked the beginning of a 34-year-long period during which no Brazilian man won the event, until José João da Silva, from Pernambuco
, won in 1980 (he would repeat the feat in 1985).
The event would remain a men-only affair until 1975, when the United Nations
declared that year as the International Year of Women. In commemoration of this, the race organizers held the women's race for the first time. The women's race started as an open event, and the first Brazilian victory would come only in its 20th edition (in 1995), when Carmem Oliveira won.
Since 1993, a shorter race for children is held a few days before the main event (dubbed "São Silvestrinha", or "Little Saint Silvester" – a unisex
event).
Until 1988, the race took place at night, approaching the New Year's, but the year of 1989 saw substantial changes in the race's format, in order to comply with the rules of the IAAF. The time of the race was altered (to 3:00 p.m. for women and 5:00 p.m. for men), the course direction was reversed, and men and women, who used to run together, had their races separated. In 1991, the length of the race was extended to 15,000 meters (the distance for the event used to vary almost yearly, usually between 6.5 km and 8.8 km). This variance needed to be corrected in order to meet the requirements of the Federation of Athletics. The race was recognized internationally in that year of 1989.
In 2004, 13,000 men and 2,000 women participated in their respective events.
Although the event had been open since 1945, it would become a noteworthy affair in the international calendar only in 1953, when the most famous runner of the time (and arguably of all time), Emil Zátopek
, participated and won the race. In recent times, the foremost long distance runners of the last two decades (almost all of them, with the exception of Haile Gebrselassie
of Ethiopia
) have participated at least once in the event.
The principal winner of all times is now Paul Tergat
, of Kenya
, who has won the race 5 times (1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000). He also holds the record time for the present distance of 15 km, having won his very first race in São Paulo with a time of 43 minutes and 12 seconds.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ians won 17 times in the national era, and 11 times in the international era.
The Saint Silvester Road Race (official name in ) is a long-distance running event, the oldest and most prestigious street race in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
Regarded as the main international event in Latin American athletics, the Brazilian competition is held yearly in the city of São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
on December 31. This day is Saint Silvester
Pope Silvester I
Pope Sylvester I was pope from 31 January 314 to 31 December 335, succeeding Pope Miltiades.He filled the See of Rome at a very important era in the history of the Catholic Church, but very little is known of him....
's Day, as it is the day in which the Catholic
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
saint, who was a Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
, died in the 4th century of the Christian Era.
São Paulo's race was originally known as a "marathon", although the course of the race, whose length has varied considerably over the years, was never that of a full marathon. Because of that, the organization eventually dropped the term "marathon", starting to refer to the event as a "race", "international race" or "road race". There was never an official effort on the part of the organization to address the change in the nomenclature, which causes many, including some media outlets, to continue using the term "Saint Silvester Marathon" when referring to the event. Its course is only 15 km (9.3 mi) long, less than half the length of a marathon but the race is made more difficult by the intense heat of the Brazilian summer and the geographical obstacles that have to be surmounted by the athletes.
Several other places like Amadora
Amadora
Amadora is a city and a municipality in Portugal, in the northwest of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. The city and municipality population is 175,872 in eleven freguesias . With an area of 23.77 km², it is the most densely populated municipality of Portugal...
and Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
(Corrida de São Silvestre), Calderara di Reno
Calderara di Reno
Calderara di Reno is a comune in the Province of Bologna in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 10 km northwest of Bologna....
(Maratona di San Silvestro) and Bolzano (BOclassic
BOclassic
The BOclassic is an annual road running competition over the distance of 10 kilometres for men and 5 kilometres for women. It is held on New Year's Eve in Bolzano, Italy. The competition has only elite races, competed between a limited number of runners, but over 10,000 spectators gather in the...
) in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(San Silvestre Vallecana
San Silvestre Vallecana
The San Silvestre Vallecana is an annual 10 km road race celebrated on December 31 in Madrid since 1964, in the borough of Vallecas, Spain. It is has two editions: a fun run for amateur athletes and an elite race for professional athletes....
), organize yearly Saint Silvester road races or marathons every late December.
History
Cásper Líbero, a "media millionaire" of the early 20th century Brazil, is credited with originally coming up with the idea for the race. He used it as a means of promoting his newspaper. In 1928, the year of the race's 4th edition, he founded one of the first sports newspapers of the country, the Gazeta Esportiva (the Sportive Gazette), which then became the race's official organizer and sponsor. The race would be the main advertising element of this sports newspaper.The race was held for the first time on December 31, 1925. Unlike most events as old or older, it has not been interrupted or suspended even once during its history, not even for the duration of World War II.
Originally, it was intended for men only, and participation was restricted to citizens of the city of São Paulo. In the following years, runners from other parts of the country joined the race, but it was not until 1941 that a runner not from the city of São Paulo won the race: José Tibúrcio dos Santos, of Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
, another Brazilian state. At that time, the event was not yet open to foreign participation. That meant that athletes from other countries could not come in to participate, but foreigners residing in the city of São Paulo (immigrants) were free to enroll. Because of this, Italian Heitor Blasi was the only foreigner to have won the race before 1947.
In 1945 the field was opened so that foreign runners could participate. The first international race was restricted to invited runners from South America, but the success of the first two "international events" led race organizers to open the event to the rest of the world in 1947. That year marked the beginning of a 34-year-long period during which no Brazilian man won the event, until José João da Silva, from Pernambuco
Pernambuco
Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...
, won in 1980 (he would repeat the feat in 1985).
The event would remain a men-only affair until 1975, when the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
declared that year as the International Year of Women. In commemoration of this, the race organizers held the women's race for the first time. The women's race started as an open event, and the first Brazilian victory would come only in its 20th edition (in 1995), when Carmem Oliveira won.
Since 1993, a shorter race for children is held a few days before the main event (dubbed "São Silvestrinha", or "Little Saint Silvester" – a unisex
Unisex
Unisex stands for the meaning that either gender or sex will be able to, but can also be another term for gender-blindness.The term was coined in the 1962 and was used fairly informally...
event).
Until 1988, the race took place at night, approaching the New Year's, but the year of 1989 saw substantial changes in the race's format, in order to comply with the rules of the IAAF. The time of the race was altered (to 3:00 p.m. for women and 5:00 p.m. for men), the course direction was reversed, and men and women, who used to run together, had their races separated. In 1991, the length of the race was extended to 15,000 meters (the distance for the event used to vary almost yearly, usually between 6.5 km and 8.8 km). This variance needed to be corrected in order to meet the requirements of the Federation of Athletics. The race was recognized internationally in that year of 1989.
Growth and prestige
For the first race, in 1925, 60 people filled applications to participate, but only 48 actually showed up on the day of the race. Of these, only 37 were officially qualified, since the rules then required that all runners had to finish within 3 minutes of the winner in order to qualify in the final board.In 2004, 13,000 men and 2,000 women participated in their respective events.
Although the event had been open since 1945, it would become a noteworthy affair in the international calendar only in 1953, when the most famous runner of the time (and arguably of all time), Emil Zátopek
Emil Zátopek
Emil Zátopek was a Czech long-distance runner best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He won gold in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres runs, but his final medal came when he decided at the last minute to compete in the first marathon of his life...
, participated and won the race. In recent times, the foremost long distance runners of the last two decades (almost all of them, with the exception of Haile Gebrselassie
Haile Gebrselassie
Haile Gebrselassie is an Ethiopian long-distance track and road running athlete. He won two Olympic gold medals over 10,000 metres and four World Championship titles in the event. He won the Berlin Marathon four times consecutively and also had three straight wins at the Dubai Marathon...
of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
) have participated at least once in the event.
The principal winner of all times is now Paul Tergat
Paul Tergat
Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many...
, of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, who has won the race 5 times (1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000). He also holds the record time for the present distance of 15 km, having won his very first race in São Paulo with a time of 43 minutes and 12 seconds.
Men
| Year | Athlete | Country | Time (m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... ) |
Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | Alfredo Gomes | 33:21 | 8.8 km | |
| 1926 | Jorge Mancebo | 22:35.3 | 6.2 km | |
| 1927 | Heitor Blasi | 23:00 | 6.2 km | |
| 1928 | Salim Maluf | 29:11.2 | 6.2 km | |
| 1929 | Heitor Blasi | 28:39.2 | 8.8 km | |
| 1930 | Murilo de Araújo | 25:35.2 | 8.8 km | |
| 1931 | José Agnello | 26:05.3 | 8.8 km | |
| 1932 | Nestor Gomes | 25:23.02 | 8.8 km | |
| 1933 | Nestor Gomes | 23:50.06 | 8.8 km | |
| 1934 | Alfredo Carletti | 24:10.2 | 7.6 km | |
| 1935 | Nestor Gomes | N/A | 7.6 km | |
| 1936 | Mario de Oliveira | 23:38.04 | 7.6 km | |
| 1937 | Mario de Oliveira | N/A | 7.6 km | |
| 1938 | Armando Martins | 23:38.4 | 7.6 km | |
| 1939 | Luiz Del Greco | 24:50.4 | 7.5 km | |
| 1940 | Antônio Alves | 22:14 | 7 km | |
| 1941 | José Tibúrcio dos Santos | 22:12 | 7 km | |
| 1942 | Joaquim Gonçalves da Silva | 17:02.06 | 5.5 km | |
| 1943 | Joaquim Gonçalves da Silva | N/A | 5.5 km | |
| 1944 | Joaquim Gonçalves da Silva | 17:40.02 | 5.5 km |
| Year | Athlete | Country | Time (m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... ) |
Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Sebastião Alves Monteiro | 21:54 | 7 km | |
| 1946 | Sebastião Alves Monteiro | 21:57 | 7 km | |
| 1947 | Oscar Moreira | 21:45 | 7 km | |
| 1948 | Raul Inostroza | 22:18.2 | 7 km | |
| 1949 | Viljo Heino | 22:45 | 7.3 km | |
| 1950 | Lucien Theys | 22:37.8 | 7.3 km | |
| 1951 | Erich Kruzicky | 22:26.5 | 7.3 km | |
| 1952 | Franjo Mihalić Franjo Mihalic Franjo Mihalić is a long-distance runner best known for his 1958 win at the Boston Marathon and his marathon silver medal in the 1956 Summer Olympics... |
21:38 | 7.3 km | |
| 1953 | Emil Zátopek Emil Zátopek Emil Zátopek was a Czech long-distance runner best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He won gold in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres runs, but his final medal came when he decided at the last minute to compete in the first marathon of his life... |
20:30 | 7.3 km | |
| 1954 | Franjo Mihalic | 23:00 | 7.3 km | |
| 1955 | Kenneth Norris | 22:18 | 7.4 km | |
| 1956 | Manoel Faria | 21:58.9 | 7.4 km | |
| 1957 | Manoel Faria | 21:37.4 | 7.4 km | |
| 1958 | Osvaldo Suarez | 21:40.3 | 7.4 km | |
| 1959 | Osvaldo Suarez | 21:55.8 | 7.4 km | |
| 1960 | Osvaldo Suarez | 22:2.1 | 7.4 km | |
| 1961 | Martin Hyman | 21:24.7 | 7.4 km | |
| 1962 | Hamoud Ameur | 22:08.5 | 7.4 km | |
| 1963 | Henry Clerckx | N/A | 7.4 km | |
| 1964 | Gaston Roelants Gaston Roelants Gaston, Baron Roelants was a top steeplechaser in the early 1960s and a great cross-country runner. At the steeplechase he won the 1962 European and 1964 Olympic titles as well as setting two world records, 8 minutes 29.6 seconds in 1963 and 8 minutes 26.4 seconds in 1965.Roelants was born in... |
21:37.7 | 7.4 km | |
| 1965 | Gaston Roelants | 21:20.1 | 7.4 km | |
| 1966 | Alvaro Mejia Flores | 29:57.7 | 9.2 km | |
| 1967 | Gaston Roelants | 24:55 | 8.7 km | |
| 1968 | Gaston Roelants | 24:32 | 8.7 km | |
| 1969 | Juan Martínez Juan Máximo Martínez Juan Máximo Martínez is a long-distance runner from Mexico. He won the gold medal in the men's 10,000 metres at the 1970 Central American and Caribbean Games, and twice competed for his native country at the Summer Olympics: in 1968 and 1972. In 1968, at the Mexico City Olympics, he finished in... |
24:02.3 | 8.7 km | |
| 1970 | Frank Shorter Frank Shorter Frank Charles Shorter is a former American long-distance runner who won the gold medal in the marathon at the 1972 Summer Olympics. His victory is credited with igniting the running boom in the United States of the 1970s.... |
24:27.4 | 8.9 km | |
| 1971 | Rafael Tadeo Palomares | 23:47.8 | 8.7 km | |
| 1972 | Victor Mora | 23:24.2 | 8.7 km | |
| 1973 | Victor Mora | 23:25 | 8.7 km | |
| 1974 | Rafael Angel Perez | 23:58 | 8.9 km | |
| 1975 | Victor Mora | 23:13 | 8.9 km | |
| 1976 | Edmundo Warnke | 23:50.8 | 8.9 km | |
| 1977 | Domingo Tibaduiza | 23:55 | 8.9 km | |
| 1978 | Radhouane Bouster | 23:51.6 | 8.9 km | |
| 1979 | Herb Lindsay | 23:26.5 | 8.9 km | |
| 1980 | José João da Silva | 23:40 | 8.9 km | |
| 1981 | Victor Mora | 23:30.2 | 8.9 km | |
| 1982 | Carlos Lopes | 39:41.05 | 13.548 km | |
| 1983 | João da Mata | 37:39.19 | 12.6 km | |
| 1984 | Carlos Lopes | 36:43.79 | 12.6 km | |
| 1985 | José João da Silva | N/A | 12.6 km | |
| 1986 | Rolando Vera Rolando Vera (athlete) Rolando Patricio Vera Rodas is a retired long-distance runner from Ecuador, who represented his native country at three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1988. He reached the top ten of the 10,000 metres at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics... |
36:45 | 12.640 km | |
| 1987 | Rolando Vera | 39:02.56 | 13.040 km | |
| 1988 | Rolando Vera | 36:23 | 13.040 km | |
| 1989 | Rolando Vera | 36:45 | 13.040 km | |
| 1990 | Arturo Barrios Arturo Barrios Arturo Barrios Flores is a Mexican long-distance runner. He was born in Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal. Barrios finished in fifth place in the 10000 metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He is a former world record holder at 10000 m... |
35:57 | 12.640 km | |
| 1991 | Arturo Barrios | 44:47 | 15 km | |
| 1992 | Simon Chemwoyo | 44:08 | 15 km | |
| 1993 | Simon Chemwoyo | 43:20 | 15 km | |
| 1994 | Ronaldo da Costa Ronaldo da Costa Ronaldo da Costa broke the ten-year-old marathon world record in 1998 in Berlin. The record was previously held by Belayneh Densamo from Ethiopia at the Rotterdam Marathon in April, 1988... |
44:11 | 15 km | |
| 1995 | Paul Tergat Paul Tergat Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many... |
43:12 | 15 km | |
| 1996 | Paul Tergat Paul Tergat Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many... |
N/A | 15 km | |
| 1997 | Émerson Iser Bem | 44:40 | 15 km | |
| 1998 74th Saint Silvester Marathon The 74th Saint Silvester Marathon, or Race , was held in São Paulo, Brazil, on December 31, 1998... |
Paul Tergat Paul Tergat Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many... |
44:47 | 15 km | |
| 1999 | Paul Tergat Paul Tergat Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many... |
44:35 | 15 km | |
| 2000 | Paul Tergat Paul Tergat Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many... |
43:57 | 15 km | |
| 2001 | Tesfaye Jifar Tesfaye Jifar Tesfaye Jifar born April 23, 1976) is a male Ethiopian long-distance runner.Jifar won the New York City Marathon in 2001, his time 2:07:43 remains the course record. The same year he was second at the Tokyo Marathon and won the Saint Silvester Marathon held in Brazil... |
44:15 | 15 km | |
| 2002 | Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Robert "Mwafrika" Kipkoech Cheruiyot , sometimes known as Omar Ahmed, is a Kenyan marathon runner and is the former record holder and four-time winner of the Boston Marathon.- Early career :... |
44:59 | 15 km | |
| 2003 | Marílson Gomes dos Santos Marílson Gomes dos Santos Marílson Gomes dos Santos is a Brazilian long-distance runner and winner of the 2006 and 2008 New York City Marathon, with times of 2:09:58 and 2:08:43, respectively... |
43:50 | 15 km | |
| 2004 | Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Robert "Mwafrika" Kipkoech Cheruiyot , sometimes known as Omar Ahmed, is a Kenyan marathon runner and is the former record holder and four-time winner of the Boston Marathon.- Early career :... |
44:43 | 15 km | |
| 2005 81st Saint Silvester Marathon The 81st Saint Silvester Marathon, or Race , was held in São Paulo, Brazil, on December 31, 2005... |
Marílson Gomes dos Santos Marílson Gomes dos Santos Marílson Gomes dos Santos is a Brazilian long-distance runner and winner of the 2006 and 2008 New York City Marathon, with times of 2:09:58 and 2:08:43, respectively... |
44:21 | 15 km | |
| 2006 | Franck Caldeira Franck Caldeira Franck Caldeira de Almeida is a marathon athlete from Brazil. He won the gold medal in the men's marathon at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the worldwide famous São Silvestre Road Race, in São Paulo, 2006.-References:... |
44:06 | 15 km | |
| 2007 | Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Robert "Mwafrika" Kipkoech Cheruiyot , sometimes known as Omar Ahmed, is a Kenyan marathon runner and is the former record holder and four-time winner of the Boston Marathon.- Early career :... |
45:57 | 15 km | |
| 2008 | James Kipsang Kwambai | 44:42 | 15 km | |
| 2009 | James Kipsang Kwambai | 44:40 | 15 | |
| 2010 | Marílson Gomes dos Santos Marílson Gomes dos Santos Marílson Gomes dos Santos is a Brazilian long-distance runner and winner of the 2006 and 2008 New York City Marathon, with times of 2:09:58 and 2:08:43, respectively... |
44:07 | 15 km |
Women
| Year | Athlete | Country | Time (m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... ) |
Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Christa Vahlensieck | 28:39 | 8.9 km | |
| 1976 | Christa Vahlensieck | 28:36.02 | 8.9 km | |
| 1977 | Loa Olafsson | 27:15 | 8.9 km | |
| 1978 | Dana Slater | N/A | 8.9 km | |
| 1979 | Dana Slater | 29:07.5 | 8.9 km | |
| 1980 | Heidi Hutterer | 27:48.4 | 8.9 km | |
| 1981 | Rosa Mota Rosa Mota Rosa Maria Correia dos Santos Mota, GCIH, GCM is a Portuguese former marathon runner, one of her country's foremost athletes. She is also considered to have been one of the best marathon runners of the 20th century.... |
26:45.8 | 8.9 km | |
| 1982 | Rosa Mota | 47:21 | 13 km | |
| 1983 | Rosa Mota | 43:41.59 | 12 km | |
| 1984 | Rosa Mota | 43:35.57 | 12 km | |
| 1985 | Rosa Mota | 43:00.85 | 12 km | |
| 1986 | Rosa Mota | 43:25 | 12 km | |
| 1987 | Martha Thenório | 46:27 | 13 km | |
| 1988 | Aurora Cunha | 42:12.7 | 12.640 km | |
| 1989 | Maria Del Carmen Diaz | 43:52 | 12.640 km | |
| 1990 | Maria Del Carmen Diaz | N/A | 12.640 km | |
| 1991 | Maria Luisa Servin | 54:02 | 15 km | |
| 1992 | Maria Del Carmen Diaz | 53:52 | 12.640 km | |
| 1993 | Helen Kimaiyo-Kipkoskei Hellen Kimaiyo Hellen Kimaiyo Kipkoskei is a retired runner from Kenya.She won many continental competitions. She competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics aged less than 16 and at the 1992 Summer Olympics. She is also a multiple Kenyan champion.In addition, she was a successful road runner... |
50:26 | 15 km | |
| 1994 | Derartu Tulu Derartu Tulu Derartu Tulu is an Ethiopian long distance track, road and marathon athlete.Derartu , a member of the Oromo ethnic group, grew up tending cattle in the village of Bekoji in the highlands of Arsi Province... |
51:17 | 15 km | |
| 1995 | Carmem Oliveira | 50:53 | 15 km | |
| 1996 | Roseli Machado | 52:32 | 15 km | |
| 1997 | Martha Thenório | 52:04 | 15 km | |
| 1998 74th Saint Silvester Marathon The 74th Saint Silvester Marathon, or Race , was held in São Paulo, Brazil, on December 31, 1998... |
Olivera Jevtić Olivera Jevtic Olivera Jevtić is a Serbian long-distance runner. She is based in her native city of Užice, Serbia. Jevtić's coach is Slavko Kuzmanović, and she competes for the running club "Mladost"... |
51:35 | 15 km | |
| 1999 | Lydia Cheromei Lydia Cheromei Lydia Cheromei is a Kenyan athlete. She specializes in long distance running. She rose to fame at the age of thirteen with a win in the junior race at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships... |
51:29 | 15 km | |
| 2000 | Lydia Cheromei | 50:33 | 15 km | |
| 2001 | Maria Zeferina Baldaia | 52:12 | 15 km | |
| 2002 | Marizete de Paula Rezende | 54:02 | 15 km | |
| 2003 | Margaret Okayo Margaret Okayo Margaret Okayo is a professional marathon runner from Kenya. She has won a number of major marathons, including the New York City Marathon , the Boston Marathon, and the London Marathon. She has also won the San Diego Marathon on two occasions.Okayo started running while at primary school... |
51:24 | 15 km | |
| 2004 | Lydia Cheromei | 53:01 | 15 km | |
| 2005 81st Saint Silvester Marathon The 81st Saint Silvester Marathon, or Race , was held in São Paulo, Brazil, on December 31, 2005... |
Olivera Jevtić Olivera Jevtic Olivera Jevtić is a Serbian long-distance runner. She is based in her native city of Užice, Serbia. Jevtić's coach is Slavko Kuzmanović, and she competes for the running club "Mladost"... |
51:38 | 15 km | |
| 2006 | Lucélia Peres | 51:24 | 15 km | |
| 2007 | Alice Timbilili Alice Timbilili Alice Jemeli Timbilil is a Kenyan professional long-distance runner. She is a two-time Olympian, having competed over 10,000 metres at both the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics.... |
53:07 | 15 km | |
| 2008 | Yimer Wude Ayalew | 51:37 | 15 km | |
| 2009 | Pasalia Kipkoech Chepkorir | 52:32 | 15 km | |
| 2010 | Alice Timbilili Alice Timbilili Alice Jemeli Timbilil is a Kenyan professional long-distance runner. She is a two-time Olympian, having competed over 10,000 metres at both the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics.... |
50:19 | 15 km |
Titles by country
| Country | Men's | Women's | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28(1) | 5 | 33 | |
| 12 | 8 | 20 | |
| 4 | 7 | 11 | |
| 4 | 5 | 9 | |
| 6 | 0 | 6 | |
| 6 | 0 | 6 | |
| 4 | 2 | 6 | |
| 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2(2) | 0 | 2 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 0 | 1 | 1 |
1 Brazil
ians won 17 times in the national era, and 11 times in the international era.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ians won 17 times in the national era, and 11 times in the international era.
