Ukrainian refugees among 40,000 to run ‘special’ London Marathon

Kostiantyn Bidnenko and Viktoriya Kiose's emotional challenge was one of thousands of extraordinary stories

On a day when the capital's streets basked in permanent smiles and unexpected sunshine, more than 40,000 runners from 18 to 89 created their own special London Marathon memories. Some stories, though, were even more extraordinary than others.

At the front of the field, the 23-year-old Ethiopian, Yalemzerf Yehualaw, became the youngest ever women's winner of the race despite injuring her hip and knee when tripping over a speed bump six miles from the finish.