The London Marathon, a gruelling 26.2-mile course through the capital, is set to host 40,000 runners, including numerous celebrities. While many famous faces take on the challenge to raise funds for charity and earn their medals, not all have succeeded without controversy. Over its 44-year history, the event has seen its share of drama, from cheating allegations to embarrassing mishaps.
In 2018, Sir Mo Farah suffered a costly blunder during one of the hottest London Marathons on record. The Olympic champion mistakenly grabbed a fellow competitor's water bottle while trying to hydrate, then rushed back to retrieve his own, losing valuable time. He repeated the error later in the race, leaving him visibly frustrated. After finishing third, Farah exchanged strong words with volunteers, later explaining that his drink looked identical to others and that he needed the stewards to be more helpful rather than taking pictures.
Reality TV star Jade Goody made headlines in 2006 for her unconventional preparation for the marathon. She admitted to completing only four training sessions and indulging in takeaways and alcohol days before the race. Halfway through the course, she required medical assistance, with witnesses reporting she turned blue and shouted 'I'm dying'. Goody claimed she ran 21 miles before stopping, though official records showed no trace of her after the 18.5-mile mark. She raised £355 for the NSPCC but faced criticism for her lack of training.
Katie Price's second attempt at the London Marathon in 2018 ended prematurely. The former glamour model quit just 15 kilometres into the race, despite wearing a pair of plastic lungs on her back to support the British Lung Foundation in honour of her mother. Onlookers later spotted the discarded lungs by the roadside.
