London Marathon boycotts X after 'descent into gutter'

The 2025 London Marathon is hoping to break records for finishing participants

The London Marathon will no longer post on X after its race director Hugh Brasher said the social media platform had "ceased to be a positive place".

The London Marathon's official account, which has 191,000 followers, last posted on X on 17 January 2025.

British Commonwealth 10,000m champion Eilish McColgan, who is competing in her first London Marathon on Sunday, was subjected to what her mum and coach Liz called "demeaning and abusive" body-shaming on social media in March.

Brasher, who described the abuse as "abhorrent", said it was an example of why the London Marathon will no longer post on X.

This year's London Marathon takes place on Sunday.

"There are some social media channels that are particularly vitriolic and are descending into a gutter," said Brasher.

"It (the decision) is off the back of just looking at that channel (X) and the vitriol.

"It was ceasing to be a rational conversation. It was ceasing to be a positive place to be."

X, previously known as Twitter, was bought by South African billionaire Elon Musk for $44bn in 2022.

Brasher, who became race director in 2012, has been involved with the London Marathon since it was set up by his father Chris and John Disley in 1981.

"One of the aims of my father and John was to show that on occasion, the family of humankind could be joyous together and celebrate together," said Brasher.

"That's what the London Marathon is about. It is a force for good.

"We didn't feel that channel shared those values, and therefore we have come off."

This year's event is aiming to break the world record for the most finishers in a marathon.

With more than 56,000 people expected to run, the race could surpass the 55,646 finishers at last year's New York Marathon.

'I'm in my 30s and still getting bullied'

McColgan says she calls out online abuse to help younger people facing similar issues.

"I've become pretty numb to it. Those comments I've had for years, they're nothing new," she said.

"The only reason I call it out from time to time is that I know that I have a lot of young kids who do follow me and I don't want them to read it and think the reason I'm that fast is because I'm starving myself to do it.

"I want people to see that what's being said is not my reality, it's actually the complete opposite of that."

McColgan believes the solution is to make social media accounts verified, but she intends to maintain a social media presence.

"It's trying to get across to the next generation that to get the most out of your career the utmost priority is looking after your body. It doesn't matter what people online think," she said.

"I've had a couple of people message to say they get bullied at school because of the way they look so it's helped them because if I'm in my 30s and still getting bullied for the way I look, it gives them a little more confidence to fight their corner."