1924 – THE BEGINNING
On October 28, 1924, eight marathon pioneers lined up at the start of the very first edition. They had accepted the invitation of Vojtech Bukovský, who was inspired to organize a marathon in Košice after attending the Olympic Games in Paris.
1931 – ARGENTINIAN OLYMPIC HERO
Only 20 years old, Argentinian runner Juan Carlos Zabala won in Košice with a solo run that foreshadowed his later Olympic triumph in Los Angeles.
1946 – THE NORDIC ERA
European champion Mikko Hietanen of Finland remained undefeated in Košice in 1946. This marked the beginning of a golden era for Nordic runners, who went on to win here eight times by the year 1956.
1961 – THE PHENOMENAL BIKILA
Olympic champion from Rome — and later from Tokyo — the phenomenal Abebe Bikila captured Košice’s heart. His victory was celebrated in a stadium packed with 30,000 spectators in a city of just 80,000. Today, a beautiful bronze bust in the city still honors his legacy.
1974 – THE MARATHON TURNS 50
The Košice Marathon celebrated its 50th anniversary. The favorite, European champion and Boston winner Ron Hill, was unexpectedly beaten by his fellow countryman Keith Angus.
1980 – WOMEN AT THE START FOR THE FIRST TIME
For the first time, women were allowed to compete. The most successful female runner to date is Germany’s Christa Vahlensieck — a former world record holder with an incredible five Košice victories.
1989 – THE CITY COURSE
A major change was introduced: after 65 years, the original route was replaced, and runners competed for the first time on a city course. This course would undergo several adjustments before reaching its current form.
1997 – 6th IAAF WORLD HALF MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIPS
Košice hosted the World Half Marathon Championships, which were described by IAAF President Primo Nebiolo as the most successful in history. Titles were claimed by Shem Kororia and Tegla Loroupe.
1999 – AIMS WORLD CONGRESS
The success of the 1997 event gave Košice organizers a stellar reputation, earning them the right to host another prestigious event — the 12th AIMS World Congress.
2012 – AN OUTSTANDING COURSE RECORD
In 2012, both course records were shattered in a very fast race. Lawrence Kimaiyo improved the men’s record by more than a minute and a half, finishing in 2:07:01. That year, the Košice Marathon ranked among the fastest in Europe.
2014 – DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
For the 90th anniversary, Košice welcomed a host of prestigious guests, including AIMS President Paco Borao, European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz, Boston Marathon President Joan Flaminio, Berlin Marathon founder Horst Milde, and European Champion Ron Hill.
2017 – REMEMBERING EMIL ZÁTOPEK
It had been 25 years since the last visit of legendary four-time Olympic champion Emil Zátopek. The marathon was dedicated to his memory. Along the course, his name appeared on the shirts of students who completed the full marathon distance in a relay in his honor.
2020 – WORLD ATHLETICS HERITAGE PLAQUE
In October 2020, the oldest marathon in Europe — the Košice Peace Marathon — was honored with the World Athletics Heritage Plaque. This prestigious award is granted for an exceptional contribution to the history and development of global athletics.
2024 – CELEBRATION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY
The year 2024 was marked by the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of this marathon. A rich social program, attended by many distinguished guests, culminated in the race itself, featuring a record number of starters and outstanding performances by the winners.