World Athletics announces 2028 Olympic marathon qualification changes

World Athletics has released the qualification criteria for the Olympic marathons at the Los Angeles 2028 Games. The number of available spots will be reduced from 80 to 70 for each gender, resulting in a total of 140 marathoners compared to the 160 participants in Paris 2024.

The qualification window is scheduled to open on November 1, 2026, and close on April 30, 2028. Athletes can qualify through three primary routes: achieving a specific time standard, placing in the top five of a Platinum Label marathon, or via the World Rankings.

Notably, a top-five finish in a Platinum Label marathon during the qualification period will be considered equivalent to meeting the time standard. The specific time standards are expected to be approved by the World Athletics Council in December 2026.