Inaugural Olympic mass marathon reveals stylish finisher medals

For the first time in Olympic history, the host city, Paris, is hosting a mass participation marathon on the evening of Aug. 10, the eve of the women’s Olympic marathon. On Wednesday, the finisher medals for the Marathon Pour Tous (Marathon For All) were unveiled, and they are stunning.

The Marathon Pour Tous (Marathon For All) medal features the official Paris 2024 Games logo on the front, along with the logo of the race sponsor, Orange Telecommunications, with the date of the race (10.08.24) engraved on the bottom. The back side of the medal has a maze-like design of the numbers 42 and 24, representing the marathon distance and the 2024 Paris Olympics, with “finisher” engraved at the bottom. Each medal weighs 150 grams, and measures 85 mm in length and 77 mm in width.

The identity of the medal designer has not been disclosed, but personally, I think the Marathon Pour Tous organizing committee hit the ball out of the park with this design. It’s elegant and thoughtful and creatively symbolic of a marathon at the Olympic Games. Runners who finish the race on Aug. 10 will get to proudly wear these medals after completing the 42.195 km race and crossing the finish line at Les Invalides.

This will be the only event in Olympic history open to the general public, offering “amateur” athletes the chance to run a marathon on the same course as the official events. Entry tickets were awarded to participants who successfully completed various challenges, including beating Eliud Kipchoge in a 5K. There are currently 20,024 runners registered for the Marathon Pour Tous.

Orange Telecommunications, the official race sponsor, expressed pride when unveiling the official medals on social media. “We are proud to unveil the official medals of the #MarathonPourTous of Paris 2024. Whether it’s the 42.195 km or the 10 km format, finishers will receive one of these medals to immortalize what could well be the race of a lifetime.”

The Marathon Pour Tous will start at 9:00 p.m. at Paris City Hall and follow the same route as the men’s and women’s Olympic marathons. This nighttime race is designed to reduce the impact of summer temperatures, which have historically reached near 35 C in early August. For those fortunate enough to secure a bib, this race will be a celebration of the Olympic Games and the vibrant city of Paris, offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience to run on the same course as the world’s best.

posted Wednesday June 19th
by Marley Dickinson