The feat of Tomás Espinoza, the first Chilean to complete the six World Marathon Majors in a calendar year

"Some dreams seem impossible until you decide to pursue them," Tomás Espinoza (39) tells El Deportivo, after leaving an indelible mark on national athletics and becoming the first Chilean to run the six World Marathon Majors in a single calendar year. It is a feat that allowed him to write his name into the great history of Chilean sport, something that was completely unthinkable when he entered the world of running just over two years ago. He took the leap after accompanying his brother Nicolás (41), having to juggle athletics with his job at a bank. "I'm a Chilean amateur runner. I'm not a professional athlete and I don't make a living from sport. I have my job, my responsibilities, and a life that I have to fit around training, travel, and races. However, this year I decided to pursue a dream that led me to run in six of the most important cities in the world," says the business engineer. It was eight months of work, preparation, wear and tear, and constant competition. Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York went by. In fact, he was only absent from Sydney — added in 2025 to the World Marathon Majors circuit — due to a visa problem. Along the way, his feat was even threatened after he suffered a car accident. **The beginning of a feat** It all began in August 2025, when his brother Nicolás entered them both in the lottery to run in Tokyo. "The odds of either of us getting a spot were already quite low, and both of us being selected seemed practically impossible. Incredibly, we both got a place," he recounts. That's when an unknown process began in his life, an absolutely new kind of preparation. Nicolás, who has more than a decade of experience preparing for and running marathons, became his coach. Until then, he had only accompanied him on a few occasions. That allowed him to travel, explore, and enjoy himself, but away from the tracks. Now things would be different: "The excitement surrounding a marathon had always caught my attention, but I had never imagined that I would end up being the one standing behind a starting line." Tokyo (March 1) was the beginning of something unprecedented in the history of Chilean athletics. "It was a wonderful experience. It's a city that combines a millennia-old culture with impressive modernity. The race organization is extraordinary, everything works perfectly, and there is enormous respect for the runners. The atmosphere is very special. You can find runners dressed up as practically anything: anime characters, Mario Bros, and even people in suits." Tomás and Nicolás Espinoza after competing in the Tokyo Marathon. The second major would be in Boston (April 20): "Up to that point I had never planned to complete the six Majors during 2026. The opportunities simply kept presenting themselves," he revealed. One constant was the presence of Chileans, who, upon seeing him representing the country, offered him words of encouragement all over the world: "I especially remember meeting a Chilean who lived in Boston. When he saw me running in my Chile shirt, he started shouting with joy and cheering me on as if we had known each other our whole lives. Those moments give you incredible energy." Tomás and Nicolás Espinoza after competing in the Boston Marathon. **Six days apart** From Boston he traveled to London (April 26). Two marathons, two continents, more than five thousand kilometers apart, and only six days between them: "That's where my dream began to take shape." "My brother had gotten a spot for London, and I, who was already registered for Boston, began contacting different agencies until I managed to get an entry. Running two marathons in less than a week is not something you can improvise. It's an enormous challenge from both a physical and mental standpoint. We sought advice, looked for information, and spoke with runners who had already taken on similar challenges," he said. In the English capital, marked by a course featuring Big Ben, the London Eye, Tower Bridge, and Buckingham Palace, his brother Nicolás completed his World Marathon Majors and earned his Six Star Finisher. But with one story completed, the other remained. "For my part, I was writing my own story. With less than two years in running, I had already completed three Majors during 2026. And I began to think seriously: 'Why not try to complete all six?'" says Tomás. Tomás and Nicolás Espinoza after competing in the London Marathon. **An accident, a tough stop in Rio, and the refusal in Sydney** In the middle of his preparation, he decided to enter the Rio de Janeiro Marathon. And not only did he complete the main race, he competed in all of them: 5K, 10K, 21K, and 42K. A different race each day — a truly impressive feat. That is, more than 78 kilometers in four days. However, his preparation was interrupted by a car accident on May 25, less than 15 days before the event. "A municipal citizen security vehicle from the Municipality of Ñuñoa, which had been chasing a stolen car, ran a red light at more than 100 km/h and violently hit me. My car spun three times and I ended up unconscious in public view. The physical damage was significant; I was completely immobilized and could barely walk," he recounts. "It was a very traumatic experience. By a true miracle I survived, though I was left with a fractured rib, numerous bruises, and severe pain, especially in my back," he adds. Even so, he decided to travel, taking care to monitor his condition along the way. He finally managed to complete his grueling challenge in the Marvelous City, though it would not be his only setback. He was unable to travel to Sydney (August 30), the last race to be designated a major, due to a visa problem. "We didn't have spots for the Sydney Marathon, but about a month before we received a special invitation from World Marathon Majors to participate. We didn't think twice. We accepted and began organizing the trip," he recounts. "However, there was very little time left and we needed to obtain the Australian visas. We applied in advance, but the days went by and we received no response. We tried contacting the embassy and used every available channel, but the visas didn't arrive in time. In the end we had to cancel the trip. It was a major disappointment because Sydney represented an extraordinary opportunity to expand our challenge even further. But we also learned that not everything depends on us. Sometimes there are circumstances we simply cannot control," he lamented. **Berlin, Chicago, and New York** Then came Berlin (September 27), a race for which he was supposedly going to arrive in better condition, preceded by months of training. However, the accident and the demanding experience of Rio delayed his preparation. Tomás and Nicolás Espinoza after competing in the Berlin Marathon. It was not without complications: "On race day it was quite hot and I arrived with a certain degree of dehydration. During the first half I was on a good pace, though I kept feeling stomach discomfort. After the halfway point I had to stop to go to the bathroom and, unfortunately, I never managed to recover the pace I had been running," he says. In any case, he managed to finish the race alongside his brother, marked by the presence of their mother, who accompanied them for the first time. Two weeks later came Chicago (October 11), where he ran his first major without his brother. Even so, it was one of the most comfortable and relaxed for him. Now only one marathon remained to complete his goal. Tomás Espinoza after competing in the Chicago Marathon. New York (November 1) was marked by several factors. In addition to having lived there for six years in the past, he also had a social commitment: "I decided to run representing a foundation called Keep a Child Alive (KCA), an organization that works to help vulnerable children and families by giving them access to medical care, nutrition, education, and protection. To get my spot, I committed to raising funds for this cause." "This completely transformed my experience. I was no longer running just for an athletic goal; I was representing children and families who truly needed my help. I did everything I could to raise as much money as possible. I shared my story, contacted friends, coworkers, and people from the running community, and even organized a charity raffle," he added. Still, that didn't distract him from his focus: "Every runner I spoke with told me the same thing: New York is a difficult marathon, you have to save your legs and not get carried away by the excitement of the start. It's one of the most important marathons in the world and, besides, it was my last chance to complete the six Majors," he continued. Complications arose after his watch began to malfunction due to losing signal under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. It recorded absurd times, which caused him to speed up unnecessarily. This, in turn, brought fatigue, along with stomach discomfort. He had to stop to go to the bathroom at kilometer nine. At that moment, while he waited, he chose to take the situation more calmly. "I sat down, breathed, and tried to do a mental reset. I knew there was still a very long way to go." "I was wearing a different race number, with an identification indicating that I was completing my sixth World Marathon Major. That meant other runners and many people in the crowd knew I was chasing something special. People greeted me and congratulated me a great deal," he reveals. "I remember an elderly American woman came up to me and said: 'Welcome to the Six World Marathon Majors Family.' Those words filled me with energy. In some way, I felt I was already part of a worldwide community of runners who had pursued the same dream for years," he adds. It was his slowest time of the year, but without a doubt it was his most emotional race: "I still find it hard to grasp what we accomplished. Four countries, thousands of kilometers traveled, countless hours of training, and an enormous financial, physical, and logistical effort." "Behind every race there are flights, lodging, entry fees, food, recovery, and many hours of planning. As an amateur runner, all of this means fitting the sport around work and personal responsibilities. It hasn't been easy. There were injuries, a car accident that could have ended my life, illnesses, and moments when it seemed much easier to quit," he concludes. Tomás Espinoza after competing in the New York Marathon.