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The winners of Disney Marathon 2025
FOX 35's Matt Trezza as live at the Walt Disney World 2025 marathon as the runners finished the race, he even got the chance to speak to a winner.
ORLANDO, Fla. - It was a race through the most magical place on earth. More than 30,000 runners braved the cold Sunday at Walt Disney World for the 32nd Disney Marathon.
The fastest man, and overall winner, was Vanilson Neves from Brazil. This was his third time winning the race. "He immersed himself to be prepare for this marathon and he was focused on this race and all the people who supported him and cheered for him. So he gave everything to give a solid performance," he said through a Portuguese translator.
The first-place female was Marielle Despres from France, who now lives in Clermont. Though at first, she said she didn't think she'd won it. "I was thinking I was the second so when I passed the line for the race I was very, very happy and I can't explain but I'm really, really proud of me!" she said.
The marathon was the climax of a series of races that started on Thursday with a 5k race, and continued with a 10k race Friday, and a half-marathon on Saturday. Many runners tried to earn special medals by completing all four of the races - which is called the Dopey Challenge. Among these marathoners were 47 so-called "perfect runners." Those were the hearty souls who had actually participated in all of Disney's marathons.
People of all abilities were able to compete, including wheelchair athletes. It also wouldn't be Disney if many runners didn't get the chance to compete in costume, which many did.
Adam Ball, vice president of Run Disney, said it took a lot that runners and their families didn’t see to make this magic happen. "We have hundreds of people behind the scenes working all year to make this come together and feel completely seamless. From when you register months in advance to when you get here, run through our parks, and do it with this entire community that they feel such a part of, it's really an army of folks working together who bring this to life," he said.
This year, FOX35 also had our people out on the track. Managing editor and experienced runner Rachel Linden finished her second Disney marathon. "Once I got to the Magic Kingdom, it was like new again. I was great to look it. It was what got me through the rough middle part where there's nothing to see," she said.
FOX35 senior producer Josh Beck also finished his first-ever marathon at Disney. "It was hard training, but every step prepares you for today. Once you get twenty miles in, you kind of grind through it, and the last six are actually pretty easy," he said.
The marathon also had a unique charity aspect. As the runners went, they built-up body heat and a lot of them stripped-off some of the clothes they're wearing: hats, t-shirts, and sweatshirts. Disney staff collected all those clothes after the marathon, cleaned them, and then donated them to local charities.
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