Pakistani Runners Excel at Sydney Marathon 2025 with Faisal Shafi’s Guinness World Record

Pakistani runners delivered outstanding performances at the Sydney Marathon, the first since it was recognised as one of the seven Abbott World Marathon Majors. Faisal Shafi from Karachi set a Guinness World Record by completing the 42.195-kilometre course in 3 hours, 40 minutes, and 13 seconds. He wore a light military-inspired uniform to pay tribute to Pakistan’s armed forces.

Faisal Shafi completed the marathon while wearing a specially designed, military-inspired uniform, finishing with a time of 3:40:13. This remarkable achievement earned him a Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon in such attire. “It was the perfect opportunity to honour our martyrs and soldiers.” Despite the challenges of running in this gear, Shafi’s performance showcased Pakistan’s growing presence in global marathons.

Ali Zaidi, an Australian-based Pakistani, led the contingent with a time of 3:05:33. Islamabad’s Bilal Ehsan followed with 3:15:03, the fastest among those travelling from Pakistan. Other top performers included Fahd Mukhtar, Hamid Butt, and Bacha Hussain. Additionally, 16 Pakistani runners finished under four hours, showcasing the depth of Pakistan’s running community.

Pakistani runners made history at the Sydney Marathon, which celebrated its inaugural status as the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major.
The event saw exceptional performances from the community, including a guinness record set by Karachi's Faisal Shafi, who completed the race… pic.twitter.com/jnSU9r3l30

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) August 31, 2025

Shafi’s recent run earned him his seventh star in the Abbott World Marathon Majors. He now joins seven other Pakistani athletes: Fahd Mukhtar (3:29:21), Hamid Butt (3:34:26), Huma Rahman (3:38:09), Dr. Salman Khan (3:39:50), Jamal Khan (4:10:10), Yusra Bokhari (5:13:49), and Ziyad Raheem (5:37:01). Yusra Bokhari, a Pakistani-American, described achieving Seven Star Finisher status as “a tremendous honor” as both a Muslim and Pakistani woman.

Ten Pakistani women finished the marathon. British-Pakistani Huma Rahman led the group with a time of 3:38:09. Other notable finishers included Norway’s Khoula Ahmed (3:52:53), the UK’s Semeena Khan (4:10:07), and Rawalpindi’s Neelab Kayani (4:10:28). These achievements highlight rising participation among women runners in Pakistan.

The Sydney Marathon has officially joined the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Other events in this series include Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York. The Sydney course takes runners past iconic landmarks like the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Royal Botanic Gardens, and Sydney Cove.

Pakistani Athletes at the Sydney Marathon 2025