Thousands of runners from nearly 50 countries, a spectacular route through iconic architecture, and an unprecedented number of first-time runners – the 8th edition of the Energa Gdańsk Marathon went down in history as a celebration of freedom, sport, and family activity. Arkadiusz Gardzielewski won the men's race with a time of 2:22:14, while Aneta Jarosz Karwowska triumphed in the women's race with a time of 2:51:03. The running weekend in Gdańsk was record-breaking in terms of international reach, with runners representing 49 countries.
Saturday marked by youth and the Czaniecka Five
From 4:30 PM, the stadium was taken over by the youngest runners. The Junior Energa Gdańsk Marathon attracted hundreds of children and young people (ages 3-15). Although their faces showed their focus and ambition, the result was secondary. The goal was to promote sports and instill healthy habits among youngsters.
Saturday evening belonged to the sprinters, who tackled the 5-kilometer distance. The fight for victory in the Czaniecka Piątka race lasted until the final meters, and the differences among the leaders were minimal. Ultimately, the fastest was Mateusz Jankowski, who completed the course in an impressive time of 16:03. In the women's 5 km competition, fans witnessed an incredible spectacle. The final triumph was decided by a sprint finish at the Polsat Plus Arena. The Gdańsk woman proved to be the fastest. Agnieszka Kujach, who overtook with a time of 18:08 Natalia Krupińska just the blink of an eye.
Royal distance in a new version
Sunday's marathon started promptly at 9:00 a.m. Participants traversed a modernized, even smoother, PZLA-certified route. Runners admired Gdańsk icons: the Shakespeare Theatre, the Baltic Philharmonic, the new footbridge over Ołowianka, and the extended section along the beach and Ergo Arena.
Marathon winner, Arkadiusz Gardzielewski:
"It was a really enjoyable run. First of all, the weather was great today – it was perfect for racing. Ten degrees and practically no wind are conditions runners love because they're conducive to fast running. And everyone loves to feel that speed. The fans also did a great job – no one stood idly by along the course, everyone cheered and applauded enthusiastically, which carried us to the finish line.".
Marathon winner, Aneta Jarosz Karwowska, shared her impressions of the tour in a somewhat poetic style:
"To paraphrase the poet's words: I reached beyond the eye's reach! Along the route, I was surprised by the Old Town and that famous cobblestone—commonly known to us as the "tank." Normally, I feel like the queen of the asphalt, and when the road is straight, I simply flow, but when the going gets rough, that sporting thrill and the worry about the stability of my stride kick in. But it's these moments that build the character of this marathon.".
Marathon Relays: Fight to the Last Meters
The marathon relay race was a thrilling affair, with seconds deciding the winner. The fastest team in the 8th Energa Gdańsk Marathon was FIGA TEAM, who, after an extremely even fight, crossed the finish line with a time of 2:40:49. The victory was won by: Paweł Weber, Tomasz Chmielewski, Kostiantyn Pyshniak i Paul Koziel.
The fight for gold went on until the very end – just 26 seconds later the team crossed the finish line Endure Team (Łukasz Bejm, Łukasz Sosnowski, Przemysław Golus, Aleksander Bartnicki), finishing the competition with a result of 2:41:15. The podium was completed by the team Banach Coach – Gdańsk, who, despite a fantastic first leg (the fastest opening of the relay), finished the race with a time of 2:44:22.
Gdańsk focuses on community
This year's edition was record-breaking in terms of diversity. Nearly 2,500 runners from 49 countries, including relay teams, reached the finish line. Among them were over 900 runners who were making their debut at the Gdańsk Marathon over this epic distance. Furthermore, more women participated in the 50% race than last year.
– It's beautiful how much energy participants can share – the mutual support is incredible. Starting at the heart of the "amber arena," Polsat Plus Arena Gdańsk, further enhances this power. I'm pleased that the second edition after the break attracted even more runners. I believe we're on the right track to rebuilding the prestige of the Gdańsk Marathon. The route is unique, passing symbols of the city, including the Shipyard, the European Solidarity Centre, and the Neptune Fountain. Although runners admit that the numerous hills make it challenging, it's these details that build its character. – she noted Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Mayor of Gdańsk, who also served as the honorary starter of the marathon.
Adam Greczyło, director of the Energa Gdańsk Marathon, summed up the event:
– My priority was the safety of the participants, and I'm incredibly satisfied that we executed the plan 100%. All services operated flawlessly, and the new features on the route, such as bypassing the bottlenecks at the Shipyard, were met with praise from the runners. The sight of thousands of smiling people at the finish line of the Polsat Plus Arena Gdańsk is the greatest reward for the entire Energy Events team. Gdańsk has once again proven its ability to organize top-notch events.
Results of the Energa Gdańsk Marathon 2026
Men in the open category
- Arkadiusz Gardzielewski (POL, Wilczyce) – 2:22:14
- Michael Brandebur (NOR, Oslo) – 2:29:40
- Damian Sławiński (POL, Gdynia) – 2:29:42
Women in the open category
- Aneta Jarosz Karwowska (POL, Warsaw) – 2:51:03
- Anna Pawlikowska (POL, Kielce) – 2:58:06
- Marcella Toft (SWE, Gothenburg) – 2:59:37
Marathon relay results
- FIGA TEAM – 2:40:49 (Paweł Weber, Tomasz Chmielewski, Kostiantyn Pyshniak, Paweł Kozieł)
- Endure Team – 2:41:15 (Łukasz Bejm, Łukasz Sosnowski, Przemysław Golus, Aleksander Bartnicki)
- Banach Coach – Gdańsk – 2:44:22 (Bartosz Banach, Wojciech Jarosławski, Klaudia Dymnicka, Aliaksei Krysiankou)
The Czanieck Five
Men
- Mateusz Jankowski (Elblag) – 16:03
- Kamil Szymanek (Saw) – 16:17
- Bartosz Banach (Gdansk) – 16:27
Women
- Agnieszka Kujach (Gdansk) – 18:08
- Natalia Krupińska (Gdansk) – 18:09
- Julia Messiah (Gdynia) – 18:35
All results are available on the website: https://live.sts-timing.pl/mg2026/
Media contact:
Sławek Rykowski
Spokesperson of Energa Gdańsk Marathon 2026
+48 500 121 908 | biuro@nikosportmedia.pl | gdanskmaraton.com
