Successful Start to the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2026 Weekend
- GENERALI 5K Kick-off
- BMW BERLIN-MARATHON Inline Skating
- Kids & Youth Programme
The GENERALI 5K as part of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON provided an atmospheric start to the race weekend this morning in perfect running conditions, building excitement for the big marathon on Sunday. More than 13,000 runners took to the five-kilometre course, making the event a complete sell-out. Among the participants were more than 2,000 Berliners, who had the opportunity to experience their city on the run one day before the big marathon. For many of them, the GENERALI 5K as part of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON was the perfect way to kick off the race weekend – and perhaps even the first step towards longer running adventures.
Running Experience for Everyone
With this accessible event, the GENERALI 5K, organised by SCC EVENTS, offers people of different ages and with varying levels of running experience the opportunity to experience the final five kilometres of tomorrow’s 42.195-kilometre race. Among the participants was former Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjørndalen, one of the most successful winter sports athletes of all time. The fastest runners were France’s Julien Le Nedic, who finished in 15:24 minutes, and American Alexandria Scearce, who crossed the finish line in 16:37 minutes.
Opportunities for the Next Generation
Saturday was also all about running and physical activity for the younger generation. Around 10,000 young runners took part in the mini-MARATHON presented by GENERALI, covering a distance of 4.2195 kilometres. On Tempelhofer Feld, the Bambini Run presented by ADAC, covering distances of 200 to 800 metres, also provided plenty of activity and excitement. Kids Skating, held on Friday, saw young participants take on distances of 400 to 1,000 metres. With this diverse range of events, SCC EVENTS gives children and young people an early and special introduction to sport and the unique atmosphere of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. Thousands of children and young people experience community, physical activity and the joy of competition.
BMW BERLIN-MARATHON Inlineskating
At exactly 12:20 p.m., the starting signal was given for the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON Inline Skating race. The international field of participants set off along Straße des 17. Juni, with the impressive backdrop of the Victory Column. Cheering points, live music and enthusiastic spectators lining the course once again created a fantastic atmosphere and made the race a special sporting experience.
On the proven course, which has been used since the year before last, the skaters headed via Ernst-Reuter-Platz and Otto-Suhr-Allee towards Charlottenburg Palace. After turning around, they raced back towards the Victory Column at high speed. A total of five laps were completed before the athletes entered the final and particularly atmospheric section of the course.
The route then followed the Landwehr Canal, passing Potsdamer Platz and Gendarmenmarkt, before the race headed towards its spectacular finale on the magnificent Unter den Linden boulevard and at the Brandenburg Gate. The unique Berlin combination of sporting excellence, sightseeing and enthusiastic crowds along the course once again made the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON Inlineskating race a special highlight of the event weekend.
Bart Swings Celebrates His Tenth Victory in Berlin
Among the approximately 2,000 skaters, Bart Swings once again demonstrated his exceptional class. The Belgian secured a confident victory, crossing the finish line first in 57:30 minutes. With this result, Swings celebrated his tenth victory in the traditional Berlin race. Behind the serial winner, Nolan Beddiaf of France and Germany’s Felix Rijhnen battled closely for the remaining podium places. Both finished in 59:41 minutes, with Beddiaf taking second place based on the race classification and Rijhnen finishing third.
The women’s race was decided by a much narrower margin. In a thrilling sprint finish, Colombia’s Keily Delgado prevailed to win in 1:12:55. Lianne van Ioon of the Netherlands and France’s Alison Bernardi crossed the finish line at the same time as Delgado to complete the podium.
