St Mary’s Alumni to Start the London Marathon

Two alumni from St Mary’s University, London will be taking to the starting line at this year’s London Marathon.

Olympic legend Sir Mo Farah and England rugby star Ellie Kildunne MBE are both set to participate in the world’s most famous marathon. Their involvement highlights the University’s strong sporting legacy and its continued presence on the international stage.

Andrew Reid-Smith, Head of Sport at St Mary’s said ‘It’s great to see Sir Mo Farah and Ellie Kildunne on the starting line of the London Marathon. Both of the athletes embody the values we hold here at St Mary’s, and they continue to inspire our students and community, and we’re incredibly proud to call them our alumni’.

Ellie Kildunne is currently competing for England in this year’s Six Nations Championship, following a landmark year for English rugby. She was named World Rugby Player of the Year and played a key role in the Red Roses’ victory at the Women’s Rugby World Cup. In recognition of her achievements, Ellie - alongside three fellow St Mary’s alumnae and Red Roses teammates - was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University.

Four-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Mo Farah has a longstanding relationship with St Mary’s, having trained, studied, and lived at the University between 2001 and 2011. He also served as the first Patron of St Mary’s Bakhita Centre for Research on Slavery, Exploitation and Abuse, reflecting his commitment both on and off the track.

As two of the University’s most celebrated sporting figures, Sir Mo Farah and Ellie Kildunne’s participation in the London Marathon is a proud moment for the St Mary’s community and reinforces the University’s reputation for nurturing world-class talent.