The 2024 Shanghai Tower Vertical Marathon took place on Nov 24, attracting 2,000 participants from over 20 countries and regions, including China, Japan, Malaysia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Poland, and Slovakia.
This year's event featured two main categories: the individual full race and the individual fun run. The full race challenged participants to ascend 3,398 steps to the 119th floor, reaching a height of 552 meters. In contrast, the fun run allowed participants to climb from the 1st to the 22nd floor, after which they could take an elevator to the 119th-floor observation deck to enjoy Shanghai's breathtaking views.
Japanese competitor Ryoji Watanabe won the men's individual race, reaching the top in just 18 minutes. The women's individual race champion was Tea Faber from Croatia, who completed her climb in 21 minutes and 26 seconds.
Since its inception, the Shanghai Tower Vertical Marathon has celebrated inclusivity. This year, three visually impaired runners exemplified the event's enduring spirit of perseverance, successfully completing the full race challenge with the assistance of volunteer escorts.
