Riga Marathon
The Rimi Riga Marathon is an annual road marathon, held in Riga, Latvia sponsored by Rimi, first held in 1991. It is a member of AIMS and is categorized as a Gold Label Road Race by World Athletics. The start and finish line of the marathon is traditionally set next to Riga Castle, and part of the track runs through the cobble-stoned streets of Old Riga as well as across Daugava river over both the Vanšu and Southern Bridges. , the marathon winner may receive up to 15,000 EUR in prize money, plus a bonus if the distance record is also broken.
Rimi Riga Marathon is one of the fastest growing marathons in Northern Europe. In 2019, there were 25 659 participants over five different distances from 82 countries.
History
The marathon was first held in 1991.In 2007, it became a member of AIMS.
The main sponsor of the marathon from 2007 to 2014 was Nordea.
By 2013 the number of participants reached 20 020 people from 65 countries, of whom 1278 competed in the marathon distance.
For several years Riga Marathon held IAAF Bronze Label status, but was awarded Gold Label in late 2018.
The 2020 edition of the race was postponed to 2020.10.11 due to the coronavirus pandemic, with registrants also having the option of transferring their entry to another runner or to 2021.
Prizes
As of 2019, the prize money received by the winner of the marathon can reach 15 000 euros, depending on the distance result, with an additional bonus reserved in case the distance record is broken. Money prizes are received by best eight finishers, with additional 2000 euros awarded to the highest placed Latvian runners in each of the distances.Winners
Marathon
Key:| Year | Men's winner | Nationality | Time | Women's winner | Nationality | Time |
| 2019 | Andualem Shiferaw | 2:08:51 | Birke Debele | 2:26:18 | ||
| 2018 | Tsedat Ayana | 2:11:00 | Georgina Rono | 2:28:22 | ||
| 2017 | Joseph Munywoki | 2:12:14 | Bekelech Bedada | 2:31:22 | ||
| 2016 | Dominic Kangor | 2:11:45 | Shitaye Gemechu | 2:38:40 | ||
| 2015 | Haile Tolossa | 2:12:28 | Meseret Eshetu | 2:37:03 | ||
| 2014 | Yu Chiba | 2:13:44 | Tigist Teshome | 2:36:51 | ||
| 2013 | Duncan Koech | 2:15:34 | Aberash Nesga | 2:40:30 | ||
| 2012 | Titus Kurgat | 2:16:53 | Iraida Aleksandrova | 2:37:37 | ||
| 2011 | Julius Kuto | 2:15:48 | Desta Tadesse | 2:37:14 | ||
| 2010 | Slimani Benazzouz | 2:17:33 | Maryna Damantsevich | 2:38:16 | ||
| 2009 | Oleg Gur | 2:18:35 | Katsiaryna Dziamidava | 2:47:30 | ||
| 2008 | Sammy Rotich | 2:16:42 | Kaja Vals | 3:13:54 | ||
| 2007 | Johnstone Changwony | 2:18:30 | Ludmila Rodina | 2:50:07 | ||
| 2006 | Yuri Vinogradov | 2:41:57 | Laura Zariņa | 3:04:31 | ||
| 2005 | Vjačeslavs Bambāns | 2:45:58 | Kaja Mulla | 3:11:09 | ||
| 2004 | Dmitrijs Sļesarenoks | 2:27:09 | Modesta Drungiliene | 2:58:29 | ||
| 2003 | Arūnas Balčunas | 2:28:07 | Aušra Kavalauskiene | 3:05:26 | ||
| 2002 | Arūnas Balčunas | 2:31:25 | Anita Liepiņa | 3:12:16 | ||
| 2001 | Ziedonis Zaļkalns | 2:27:25 | Laila Ceika | 3:11:45 | ||
| 2000 | Ziedonis Zaļkalns | 2:30:59 | Aušra Kavalauskiene | 3:12:11 | ||
| 1999 | Arūnas Balčunas | 2:37:10 | Laila Ceika | 3:37:21 | ||
| 1998 | Ziedonis Zaļkalns | 2:33:41 | Laila Ceika | 3:27:49 | ||
| 1997 | Normunds Fedotovskis | 2:33:05 | Kaja Mulla | 3:12:26 | ||
| 1996 | Aleksandrs Prokopčuks | 2:31:46 | Inita Drēziņa | 3:30:42 | ||
| 1995 | Ziedonis Zaļkalns | 2:32:44 | Galina Bernat | 3:02:11 | ||
| 1994 | Normunds Ivzāns | 2:43:09 | Laila Ceika | 3:19:56 | ||
| 1993 | Aleksandrs Prokopčuks | 2:26:41 | Svetlana Șepelev-Tcaci | 2:55:07 | ||
| 1992 | Gusman Abdulin | 2:21:29 | Olga Youdenkova | 2:47:28 | ||
| 1991 | Vladimir Kalenkovich | 2:28:27 | Alla Doudayeva | 2:43:53 |
Half marathon
Key:| Year | Men's winner | Nationality | Time | Women's winner | Nationality | Time |
| 2019 | Jānis Višķers | 1:05:59 | Beatie Deutsch | 1:17:34 | ||
| 2018 | Aleksandr Matviychuk | 1:05:14 | Milda Vilčinskaite | 1:14:38 | ||
| 2017 | Robert Kimaru Magut | 1:05:04 | Inga Zālīte | 1:23:45 | ||
| 2016 | Ibrahim Mukunga | 1:05:26 | Jeļena Prokopčuka | 1:16:06 | ||
| 2015 | Jānis Girgensons | 1:06:20 | Jeļena Prokopčuka | 1:13:24 | ||
| 2014 | Ibrahim Mukunga | 1:05:56 | Jeļena Prokopčuka | 1:14:52 | ||
| 2013 | Jānis Girgensons | 1:07:24 | Jeļena Prokopčuka | 1:14:39 | ||
| 2012 | Valērijs Žolnerovičs | 1:06:04 | Jeļena Prokopčuka | 1:10:27 | ||
| 2011 | Sergei Lukin | 1:06:28 | Lyubov Morgunova | 1:15:01 | ||
| 2010 | Valērijs Žolnerovičs | 1:05:40 | Irene Chepkirui | 1:14:04 | ||
| 2009 | Joel Komen | 1:06:49 | Daniela Fetcere | 1:23:05 | ||
| 2008 | Pavel Loskutov | 1:05:52 | Helen Decker | 1:20:00 | ||
| 2007 | Dainius Saucikovas | 1:09:17 | Ilona Marhele | 1:22:21 | ||
| 2006 | Viktors Sļesarenoks | 1:15:20 | Anita Liepiņa | 1:33:43 |
By country
| Country | Total | Marathon | Marathon | Half Marathon | Half Marathon |
| 32 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 9 | |
| 14 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 1 | |
| 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |
| 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Multiple wins
| Athlete | Country | Wins | Years | Distance |
| Jeļena Prokopčuka | 5 | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 | Half Marathon | |
| Laila Ceika | 4 | 1994, 1998, 1999, 2001 | Marathon | |
| Ziedonis Zaļkalns | 4 | 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001 | Marathon | |
| Arūnas Balčunas | 3 | 1999, 2000, 2003 | Marathon | |
| Aleksandrs Prokopčuks | 2 | 1993, 1996 | Marathon | |
| Aušra Kavalauskiene | 2 | 2000, 2003 | Marathon | |
| Valērijs Žolnerovičs | 2 | 2010, 2012 | Half Marathon | |
| Jānis Girgensons | 2 | 2013, 2015 | Half Marathon |