Athens Marathon race medals

PROM'ES annually supplies the race medals for the Athens Marathon on behalf of SEGAS, the Greek Athletics Federation. Leading artists create the design of the medal. Artist Costas Tsoklis designed the last edition’s race medals.

Athens Marathon: 'Mother of Marathons'

The Athens Marathon is known as the ‘Mother of Marathons’. Participants run from the town of Marathon to Athens, the same route the messenger ran in ancient times to tell the Athenians of their victory over the much larger Persian army. The finish line is at the iconic Panathinaikon stadium, a marble U-shaped reconstruction of an ancient arena with around 80,000 seats, where the very first modern Olympic Games took place.

Eight-year race medals serie

In 2019, SEGAS, the Greek athletics federation, and PROM'ES have partnered for a unique race medals serie. The series consists of eight race medals, designed by leading artists. One side features a key moment in the history of Olympic marathon sport that changes for each medal. The reverse side of the eight medals features the Panathenaic stadium, designed by Greek Spyros Kizis using two types of metal. Each medal has a letter of the word MARATHON. During corona, the marathon could not take place. By 2027, the combination of the eight engraved letters will spell out the whole word.

Find out more marathon race medals

Race medals 2019 | Alekos Fasianos

The opening medal, Battle of Marathon, depicts the legendary battle in 490 BC and symbolises the origins of the marathon with images of ancient warriors.

Race medals 2021 | Kostas Varotsos

Inspired by the historic run of Pheidippides, Varotsos' design honours the messenger's perseverance by combining abstract shapes to suggest movement and resilience.

Race medals 2022 | Yiannis Psychopedis

Titled ‘Cradle of democracy’, this medal depicts the Parthenon and an olive branch, highlighting Athens as the cradle of democratic ideals.

40-Year anniversary edition in 2023

The anniversary edition in 2023 saw a record of 20,322 registered runners at the start in the village of Marathon. Edwin Kiptoo from Kenya won the 40th edition in a new course record of 02:10:34. The course of the Athens Marathon is hilly. As a result, times close to the world's best are not possible.

Xenou's medal design, known as ‘the Eternal Winner’, captures a runner at the moment of triumph and reflects the spirit of victory and endurance central to the marathon.

For the anniversary edition the organisation issued additional race medals. Participants could order an anniversary medal in addition to their finisher medal.
The medal was packaged in a nice gift box and was added to their collection not only by avid runners, but also by coin collectors.

Race medals 2024

Artist Costas Tsoklis designed the last edition’s race medals. Born in Athens in 1930, Costas Tsoklis broke through internationally with his technique of ‘living painting’. The medal he designed features an olive branch and named ‘Kotinos’ or ‘Olive Branch’. From the wild olive branch, a beautiful wreath was made for the Olympians in ancient times. The race medal is therefore a tribute to Spyros Louis. Spyros Louis was the first marathon champion of the Olympics in 1896.

Race medals as collector's item

In addition to finisher medals, PROM'ES supplies 1,000 medals annually as collectors' items. This medal reads ‘collector’ instead of ‘finisher’ to distinguish between the two variants. Collectors from Greece and abroad buy the medal at the OPAP Marathon Expo.

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