and 8.8 km). This variance needed to be corrected in order to meet IAAF marathon and road race regulations and requirements. The 2020 race was postponed to July 2021 and later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, mark the first time that the race was not held since the debut in 1925. Growth and prestige For the first race, in 1925, 60 people filled applications to participate, but only 48 actually showed up on the day of the race. Of these, only 37 were officially qualified, since the rules then required that all runners had to finish within 3 minutes of the winner in order to qualify in the final board. In 2004, 13,000 men and 2,000 women participated in their respective events. Although the event had been open since 1945, it would become a noteworthy affair in the international calendar only in 1953, when the most famous runner of the time (and arguably of all time), Emil Zátopek, participated and won the race. In recent times, the foremost long distance runners of the last two decades (almost all of them, with the exception of Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia) have participated at least once in the event. The principal winner of all times is now Paul Tergat, of Kenya, who has won the race 5 times (1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000). The record time for the present distance of 15 km is for his compatriot Kibiwott Kandie with a time of 42 minutes and 59 seconds in the 2019 edition. Champions Titles by country 1 Brazilians won 18 times in the national era, and 11 times in the international era. 2 Italy only won in the national era, with the Italo-Brazilian, Heitor Blasi. See also São Silvestre (film) References External links Official website 15K runs International sports competitions in São Paulo Recurring sporting events established in 1925 New Year celebrations December sporting events 1925 establishments in Brazil Tourist attractions in São Paulo