When Sammi Kinghorn crossed the finish line at her last marathon in March 2018, she was adamant it would be her final one. Echoing Steve Redgrave’s famous sentiment, she insisted she would never tackle 26.2 miles again.
That punishing race at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, where she finished fourth, left a lasting mark. At the time, she described the experience as “absolutely awful.” Yet, just like Redgrave eventually returned to the water, Kinghorn has now had a change of heart.
Tomorrow, the 29-year-old will line up once again – this time at the London Marathon Wheelchair Race. From the outside, Kinghorn’s marathon comeback seems unexpected.
Only last year, she achieved the crowning moment of her career. At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, she clinched the gold medal in the T53 100m. This victory completed her set of European, World, and Paralympic titles.
Even now, seven months later, the sheer joy is still clear in her voice. “Before I actually won gold in Paris, I had wondered if it would ever happen,” she says.
“To achieve it was a huge relief but afterwards, I was mentally very, very tired. I felt exhausted because I’d been in this hyper state for so long and that takes a toll.”
Following her triumphant return from Paris, Kinghorn knew 2025 had to look different. Not easier, necessarily. But definitely different.
Kinghorn has always been honest about the pre-race nerves that plague her – sometimes leaving her physically sick just moments before competing. A full year away from the intense sprinting scene began to seem not only appealing but necessary. And so, never one to do things by halves, she set her sights on the London Marathon.
Swapping short sprints for the gruelling endurance of marathon training has been a major shift. Yet it’s one Kinghorn has embraced with energy. “Becoming Paralympic champion, I had achieved all my dreams and so I then wanted to do something where there was no pressure and allow myself to just enjoy racing,” she says.
“I got married in January and so the timing of London is great and training hard is not difficult for me so I wasn’t daunted by that aspect of the marathon. It’s cool going into a race knowing there’s no pressure. Nobody cares how I do and you never know, maybe I’ll be quite good at it.”
Having spent years focused on track events, Kinghorn is relishing the chance to experience the lively atmosphere that London’s famous streets offer.
“When I’m in stadiums doing the sprints, my races are so short I often don’t hear the crowd because I’m so dialled into my race. So I feel like I’m missing out on that whereas in London, I’ll have loads of time to take in the atmosphere and I just want to enjoy the experience.
“Everyone I’ve spoken to says the London crowds are just amazing and that’s what I’m most looking forward to this weekend,” she says.
With excitement building for the event, fans and travellers are being advised to plan ahead. For the latest updates on road closures and travel information for the London Marathon 2025, visit London Marathon 2025 Road Closures and Travel Updates.
Kinghorn acknowledges the competition will be fierce. “It’s going to be a tough race though, because these are some of the very best endurance athletes ever. The start is really important because you want to get into the pack and then you have to know at what points to recover and what points to push hard.
There’s going to be a lot of girls around me, though, and I’ll be pushing with other people so I’m hoping that makes the miles go faster.” This isn’t just a casual break from sprints for Kinghorn. There’s a bigger plan at play.
She has her sights firmly set on the Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028. And she believes that by giving her mind and body the reset they desperately need, she can return even stronger.
“I’m lucky that my work paid off and I got that gold medal in Paris but my goodness, I’m knackered from it and so I was forced to think about what I need to do for my longevity,” she says.
“Some people can cope with the pressure year after year but it was affecting me, and I don’t want to look back at all my races and just remember being sick before them. I want to remember happy stuff but at the moment, the thought of getting on a track just makes me feel nervous.
“Currently, I’m second in the world rankings, and I could probably comfortably stay in second for quite a few more years. But no, I want to go out there and challenge for number one. And the only way I can do that is if I take some time out now. I’m going to train just as hard as I always have, but I’m going to give my mind a break.
“I feel like I’ve earned the right to do this – to have a year off, dashing around the world and just focus on bettering myself. So I think this year will make me a better person as well as a better athlete.”
Sammi Kinghorn’s return to marathon racing isn’t about medals this time – it’s about rediscovery. Reclaiming the simple joy of competing. Rebuilding the passion without the heavy weight of expectation.
Whether she conquers the London Marathon or not, this new chapter is already a victory for Kinghorn’s spirit. And if her plans play out, it may just be the perfect springboard for an even greater triumph in Los Angeles 2028.
