Jo Fukuda: Japanese runner wins 2022 Gold Coast Marathon

The Gold Coast Marathon has made a triumphant return to form as one of the city’s biggest events, with a predicted economic boost of $30m to the region.

Jo Fukuda has won the 2022 Gold Coast Marathon. Pictured with Gold Coast Marathon legend and long-time ambassador Pat Carroll. Picture Glenn Hampson

The Gold Coast Marathon has made a triumphant return to form as one of the city’s biggest events, with a predicted economic boost of $30m to the region.

Close to 20,000 runners pounded the pavement across the weekend, with a slew of visitors from interstate and overseas returning to the event in the wake of the Covid pandemic.

Cam Hart, general manager of Events Queensland Gold Coast said without the marathon, which was cancelled in 2019 and 2020, “things were looking grim for tourism during the pandemic”.

Mr Hart said the event is tipped to bring $30m of much-needed tourism dollars back into the fold with the number of visiting runners.

80+ PHOTOS: Day one of the Gold Coast Marathon

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“The response we’ve had across the city – from runners, visitors, locals, people in hotels and the greater business community – was nothing short of phenomenal,” Mr Hart said.

“We saw so many large groups travelling from interstate and overseas for the event and there’s more people out and about than we have witnessed in years. People have a spring in their step again.”

Mr Hart said it was “incredible” to see high-profile Japanese runner, Jo Fukuda, take out the men’s marathon and America’s Lindsay Flanagan setting a new course record for the women (2:24:43).

Gold Coast Marathon Sunday. 10KM Race. Pic Mike Batterham

“While we weren’t expecting lots of internationals, with flights only recently resuming, we still saw close to 500 visitors from overseas arrive for the event,” he said.

“What this year’s event has done is not just raise the profile of the Gold Coast Marathon again for international eyeballs, but it has done it for the whole city again,” Mr Hart said.

“The planets are really aligning for the city with new tourism activity, increased capacity at our airport with the new aerobridges and arrivals terminal and exposure from events like the marathon.”

Asked to describe the atmosphere across the marathon weekend, Mr Hart said: “On Saturday the ASICS Half Marathon kicked off in total darkness, and although there was a light rain spectators everywhere came out and cheered the runners on. The feedback we’ve had from visiting athletes has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Plenty of spectators turned out for the marathon. Pic Mike Batterham

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said it was incredible to have the marathon back in the city again.

“To us, it (the marathon) is so much more than a running race. It sends the message across Australia and New Zealand and Japan that we are back with a big city event,” the Mayor said.

“Our city’s reputation is built on hosting large-scale sporting events and festivals. To see helicopters in the sky today following the lead runners and capturing the magical Gold Coast skyline is publicity you just cannot buy.

Marathon organisers are over the moon at the event’s success. Pic Mike Batterham

Marathon organisers would have been pleased the weekend was largely incident free, with the exception being a heart attack suffered by high-profile Gold Coast cosmetic surgeon Dr Cesidio Colagrande during Saturday’s half marathon.

The 53-year-old was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Gold Coast Health would not provide updated details on his condition today.

Jo Fukuda wins 2022 Gold Coast Marathon

The winning atmosphere was palpable at the 42nd Gold Coast Marathon as Japanese runner Jo Fukuda crossed the line in a stunning finish.

Hundreds of spectators drummed wildly on the barricades as the blue-haired 31-year-old marked his first marathon win in the city, after having scored a third place spot in 2018.

He told the media scrum his dye-job was the reason he took out the title, saying it was “very Gold Coast.”

He recorded a time of 2:10:55, just shy of his lifetime best in 2018, where he ran 2:09:52.

Japanese runner Akihiro Kaneko followed in second with a time of 2:14:25, and Belgian Amaury Paquet nabbed third place (2:15:45).

American long-distance runner Lindsay Flanagan placed first for women and thirteenth overall with a time of 2:24:43 - a new course record.

Aussies dominated the leaderboard, with Louis Mcafee, Samuel Gebremichael, Jacob Cocks, Aidan Hobbs, Patrick Stow, Nick Earl and Ben Kelly rounding out the top 10.

#BREAKING - 31-year-old Japanese runner Jo Fukuda has taken out this year’s #GoldCoast Marathon with a time of 2:10:55 @Samstolznews@[e-mail]/CjujvYSn4e

— Andrew Potts (@GCS_Pottsy) July 2, 2022