Elite Athlete Assistance Program

Applications are now open for 2026. applications close Sunday 10 may 2026.

ASICS Gold Coast Marathon

Oceania athletes

The ASICS Gold Coast Marathon will provide assistance to leading Oceania marathon runners to compete in the Gold Coast Marathon. To be considered for assistance runners must be members of an Athletics Australia or Athletics New Zealand affiliated club (or other Oceania member federation) and be eligible to represent their Oceania country at international level.

Assistance is guaranteed where times have been set between 1 January 2025 and 3 May 2026. If times were set in 2024 some assistance may apply and will only be available under very special circumstances for those athletes who set times in 2023 or earlier. There is the possibility of assistance for debut marathon runners if their recent half marathon form indicates they could run sub 2:15/2:35 (i.e. sub 1:03:00 men and sub 1:11:00 women).

The following two assistance levels are available:

Male sub 2:15 & Female sub 2:35

• Free race entry
• Up to $350 AUD travel money (reduced to $100 AUD for athletes living within 250km of the Gold Coast)
• Airport transfers upon arrival/departure from Gold Coast Airport (if required)
• Up to four nights accommodation at the official race hotel – check in Thursday 2 July and check out Monday 6 July, 2026
• Shuttle to the start line on race morning (if staying at race hotel)
• Access to elite athlete area on race day (pre- and post-race)
• Seeded (elite) race number

Male sub 2:20 & Female sub 2:40

• Free race entry
• Up to $650 AUD assistance money (reduced amount for athletes living within 250km of the Gold Coast)
• Access to elite athlete area on race day (pre- and post-race)
• Seeded (elite) race number

International athletes

Applications from international marathon runners will be considered on a case by case basis but as a guide assistance will be considered for men with recent sub 2:12 and women with recent sub 2:30 performances.

APPLY HERE

Wheelchair Marathon

There is an assistance program in place for elite Wheelchair Marathon competitors. The following assistance is available for the defending  Wheelchair Marathon champions and athletes with recent times meeting the following standard – men sub 1:50:00 and women sub 2:00:00. Assistance is guaranteed where these times have been set between 1 January 2025 and 3 May 2026. If times were set in 2024 some assistance may apply and will only be available under very special circumstances for those athletes who set times in 2023 or earlier.

• Free race entry
• Up to $350 AUD travel money (reduced to $100 AUD for athletes living within 250km of the Gold Coast)
• Airport transfers upon arrival/departure from Gold Coast Airport (if required)
• Up to four nights accommodation at the official race hotel – check in Thursday 2 July and check out Monday 6 July, 2026
• Shuttle to the start line on race morning (if staying at race hotel)
• Access to dedicated wheelchair athlete area on race day (pre- and post-race)
• Seeded (elite) race number

There is the possibility of assistance for wheelchair competitors wishing to make their marathon debut if their recent half marathon form indicates they could finish in 1:50:00/2:00:00 (i.e. sub 0:52:00 men and sub 0:57:00 women).

APPLY HERE

China Airlines Half Marathon

Oceania athletes

Assistance may be provided to leading Oceania half marathon runners to compete in the China Airlines Half Marathon. To be considered for assistance runners must be members of an Athletics Australia or Athletics New Zealand affiliated club (or other Oceania member federation) and be eligible to represent either Australia or New Zealand at international level.

Assistance is guaranteed where times have been set between 1 January 2025 and 3 May 2026. If times were set in 2024 some assistance may apply and will only be available under very special circumstances for those athletes who set times in 2023 or earlier.

The following assistance level is available:

Male sub 1:03 & Female sub 1:11

• Free race entry
• Up to $350 AUD travel money (reduced to $100 AUD for athletes living within 250km of the Gold Coast)
• Airport transfers upon arrival/departure from Gold Coast Airport (if required)
• Up to two nights accommodation at the official race hotel – check in Friday 3 July and check out Sunday 5 July, 2026
• Shuttle to the start line on race morning (if staying at race hotel)
• Access to elite athlete area on race day (pre- and post-race)
• Seeded (elite) race number

There is the possibility of assistance for debut half marathon runners if their recent 10km/10,000m form indicates they could run sub 1:03/1:11 (i.e. sub 29:00 men and sub 33:00 women).

APPLY HERE

Other Support

Rising Stars

There is also a small support fund set aside for supporting “Rising Stars” within the Australian distance running community (free race entry plus $200 AUD travel money or $100 travel money for athletes living within 250km of the Gold Coast). Applications will be open to runners 25 & under (as at race day) who are not yet ready to take on the challenge of the marathon. Indicative performance levels to qualify for the Rising Stars program are recent sub 30 min (men) and sub 35 min (women) results for 10km and sub 1:06:00 (men) and sub 1:14:00 (women) results for the half marathon. Applicants will be considered on a case by case basis.

APPLY HERE

Applications are now open for 2026. applications close Sunday 10 may 2026.