London Marathon boycotts X after ‘descent into gutter’

After its race director Hugh Brasher declared that the social media platform had “ceased to be a positive place,” the London Marathon will no longer post on X.

The last post on X on January 17, 2025 was The London Marathon’s official account, which has 191, 000 followers.

Eilish McColgan, the reigning champion of the British Commonwealth 10 000m, was the subject of what her mother and coach Liz called “demeaning and abusive” body-shaming on social media in March.

The abuse was “abhorrent,” according to Brasher, who cited it as an illustration of why the London Marathon will no longer post on X.

Sunday is the starting location for the London Marathon this year.

“It (the decision) was made based solely on the vitriol and that channel (X).

It was coming to an end of a rational conversation. It was losing its positive energy.

Elon Musk, a billionaire from South Africa, purchased X, formerly known as Twitter, for $44 billion in 2022.

Brasher, who took over as race director in 2012, has been a part of the London Marathon since his father, Chris and John Disley, founded it in 1981.

One of my father and John’s goals was to demonstrate that sometimes the human family can be joyful together and celebrate together, Brasher said.

The London Marathon is organized around that theme. It acts as a positive force.

We have since come off because we didn’t think the channel shared those values.

The most marathon runners in a year is expected to surpass the previous record.