Pakistan’s Spirit Shines Bright at London Marathon 2025

As London woke to a crisp Sunday morning, 30 Pakistani and Pakistani-origin athletes stood ready at the start line of the 2025 London Marathon, joining over 50,000 runners from around the world. Their participation marked a growing presence of Pakistan in the world of distance running.

Among the group, 64-year-old Hamid Butt from Lahore was preparing for a historic moment. Having already completed the six World Marathon Majors once, he now aimed to become the first Pakistani to achieve the six-star honor twice.

The Pakistani team featured runners from the United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Norway, and Saudi Arabia. Many had just completed the Boston Marathon days earlier, showing remarkable resilience. UK-based runner Hira Diwan reflected that she once dreamed of being part of this elite group, a dream she proudly realized this year after completing both Boston and London.

For British-Pakistani advocate Semeena Khan, the race was particularly special as she was running her sixth London Marathon while leading the Muslim Runners UK community.

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From Pakistan, TV anchor Mona Khan reached London after months of balancing her hectic media job and marathon training. Her coach, Muhammad Yousuf Malik, praised her dedication, highlighting her sacrifices in preparation for the event.

Islamabad’s Furqan Masood also celebrated a personal journey, evolving from a casual jogger to a marathon runner within three years. Meanwhile, Hira Mufti, a British-Pakistani mother of three, dedicated her run to her late father, linking her 42 years of life with the 42 kilometers of the marathon.

Norwegian-Pakistani runner Amy Mir viewed the marathon as just one chapter in a larger adventure, with her sights now set on summiting K2 in 2026.