The recently-concluded Da Nang International Marathon (DNIM) 2024 welcomed more than 9,000 athletes. Among them were about 1,800 international athletes from 57 countries and territories, accounting for 19% of the total number of the contestants and representing an increase about 46% of against 2023.

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong (first, right) awarding prizes to top 3 finishers in the men’s 42km full marathon event at the closing ceremony of DNIM 2024 on March 24.

In addition to world-renowned runners, DNIM 2024 attracted a large number of professional athletes and athletics ones with good results called Dragon Runner. About 100 athletes registered to join the Dragon Runner group.

In the end, in the men’s 42km event, Kiptoo Edwin from Kenya excellently won the championship with a time of 2 hours 37 mins 06 secs.

Kiptoo Edwin shared “Da Nang is very beautiful. Hopefully in the future, I will have many chances to return to the city to participate in such a running competition because the city seems to give me endless positive energy to practice this kind of sports".

Meanwhile, Ben Cameron, an Australian nationality, also expressed his satisfaction with the careful preparation for the competition. Mr. Ben is a retired professional athlete in Australia. Over the past years, he has come to Viet Nam to rediscover the feeling of victory of his youth.

"Actually, I am extremely impressed with this bustling atmosphere. I didn't expect that the opening ceremony would be organised so neatly and professionally. Da Nang is truly a worth-living city in Viet Nam. Even if you let me live here, I will immediately agree" Mr. Ben added.

Many athletes express satisfaction with the professionalism of the 2024 Da Nang International Marathon.

"Queen of Walking" Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc from Da Nang remarked that the tournament took place in late March so the weather conditions were quite favourable for runners.

"This is the second time I have competed in the competition. Throughout the race, from the surrounding scenery to the words of encouragement from the organisers or participating athletes themselves encouraging each other made me run like I was not tired. When I finished in the second place, I felt very satisfied. Thank the organisers for creating such a professional playground for the running community" Ms. Phuc confided.

Many other domestic and international athletes also showed their great satisfaction about being able to run along the coast and pass through prominent locations of the city such as the Dragon Bridge, the Han River Bridge, the Son Tra Peninsula, and the Marble Mountains.  Besides, counters providing water, functional food, and physical therapy treatment for athletes were fully arranged.

Reporting by B.LAM, N.VAN, T.TRINH - Translating by M.DUNG