# World Record Holders Settle 2027 London Marathon Schedule with Rock, Paper, Scissors
Sebastian Sawe and Catherine Debrunner, both world record holders in wheelchair racing, resolved a scheduling conflict for the 2027 London Marathon using rock, paper, scissors rather than negotiation or lottery.
The competition organizers faced a logistical puzzle. Both athletes held wheelchair racing world records and wanted prime positioning in the race calendar. Rather than resort to complex tie-breaking rules or committee decisions, the London Marathon took an unconventional approach. Sawe and Debrunner played the classic hand game to determine the schedule.
Sawe holds the world record for the men's wheelchair marathon, while Debrunner holds the women's record in the same discipline. Both represent the elite tier of wheelchair racing, where milliseconds separate competitors and course conditions directly impact performance. The timing of their races affects pacing strategy, weather exposure, and crowd dynamics.
This decision reflects a broader shift in how major marathons approach athlete logistics. The London Marathon, one of the world's six major marathons, frequently hosts elite wheelchair competitors alongside able-bodied runners. Accessibility and fair treatment for wheelchair athletes have become priorities for race organizers, particularly as television viewership and sponsorship around wheelchair racing have grown in recent years.
The casual resolution method also highlights the camaraderie within elite wheelchair racing circles. Rather than creating tension or formal disputes, Sawe and Debrunner accepted a lighthearted solution. This approach stands in contrast to traditional sports dispute resolution, which often involves lengthy arbitration or bureaucratic processes.
Wheelchair racing continues gaining traction as a competitive endurance sport. Athletes like Sawe and Debrunner train with the same rigor as elite able-bodied marathoners, following periodized training plans, monitoring lactate thresholds, and competing for world records. The average finish time for elite wheelchair marathoners hovers around 1 hour and 35 minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes, depending on course terrain and athlete specialization.
The 2027 London Marathon will mark another milestone for wheelchair racing visibility at a World Marathon Majors event. The six major marathons, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York, and Tokyo, collectively shape elite marathon culture and attract the world's fastest distance runners across all categories.
For Sawe and Debrunner, the rock, paper, scissors outcome determines race-day variables they will manage throughout their competitive careers. Wheelchair racers navigate courses designed primarily for able-bodied runners, requiring strategic positioning at aid stations and awareness of road conditions that affect wheelchair mechanics. Course knowledge and optimal pacing windows remain competitive advantages in marathon racing.
The story underscores how innovation and humor can solve logistical challenges in elite sport. Organizers balanced fairness with practicality, allowing both athletes equal odds while maintaining momentum toward race planning completion. For the wheelchair racing community, the anecdote demonstrates that elite competition exists within a framework of mutual respect and accessibility advancement.