Gopi after completing the Valencia Marathon where he came within a whisker of breaking the National record
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Olympian Gopi Thonakal now has a singular obsession — break the long-standing National record in marathon.
Shivnath Singh’s Jalandhar Mark of 2:12.00 has stood the test of time for 48 years and continues to elude the elite marathon runners in the country.
The 37-year-old Gopi came agonisingly close to breaking the record when he clocked 2:12.23 at the Valencia Marathon in December 2025. He was on course but cramps by the 36km mark slowed him down and he missed setting a National record by a whisker.
Published – March 15, 2026 06:42 pm IST