• Share

On your marks! The World’s Deepest Marathon set to showcase the limits of human endeavour and advances in mine technology and safety

17 July 2025
  • 60 runners, from 17 countries will take part in the deepest marathon ever attempted – in a zinc mine 1,120m below sea level in Garpenberg, Sweden on 25 October 2025, 100 days from now.
  • The endurance challenge aims to showcase human potential, change perceptions of mining, and raise more than £1m for charities
  • The event is a unique collaboration between learning and development specialists BecomingX, mining industry body ICMM and the owners of the mine Boliden.

This October, 60 amateur runners from across the globe will take part in a world first: a full marathon 1,120m below sea level, in one of Europe’s deepest mines (1,302m beneath the surface). To put this in perspective, this is four times the depth of The Eiffel Tower (312m).  Hosted in Boliden’s Garpenberg zinc mine in Sweden, the World’s Deepest Marathon will be the deepest event of its kind ever, breaking two world records and aiming to raise more than £1m for charity.

With temperatures reaching up to 28°C, gravel floors and no natural light, runners will complete 18 lengths of a 2.4km tunnel, wearing specialist reflective running gear, helmets and headtorches as they push their physical and mental limits. The event is designed not only to break records, but to celebrate the resilience of the human spirit and spotlight the safety, innovation and transformation of the modern mining industry.

The World’s Deepest Marathon embodies BecomingX’s message that we all have the potential to achieve extraordinary things. This will be a true test of mental and physical resilience. Running a marathon is tough, but doing it 1,120 metres below sea level, in total silence and darkness, will push participants to their limits. This is about more than breaking records - it’s about proving what’s possible when we dare to push beyond our perceived boundaries and into the unknown

Bear Grylls, BecomingX co-founder

BecomingX, a learning and development company on a mission to help people realise their potential, is partnering with ICMM (International Council on Mining and Metals) and event hosts Boliden, one of the world’s most advanced mining companies.

The event is supported by 23 sponsors, including Official Partners World Gold Council, Hindustan Zinc, and Teck Resources Limited, whose senior leaders will all personally take on the marathon underground.

This event shows just how far mining has come. Underground conditions are often challenging, yet with the kind of safety and sustainability leadership that Boliden exemplifies, mines can support 60 runners attempting a full marathon deeper than any human in history. The World’s Deepest Marathon not only supports great causes but shines a light on the innovation, safety and humanity that define the modern, responsible mining industry.

 

Rohitesh Dhawan, CEO of ICMM

We’re incredibly proud to host this historic event at our Garpenberg mine. As one of the safest and most technologically advanced mines in the world, it’s the perfect setting to show that mining can be both cutting-edge and purpose-driven. We look forward to welcoming the intreprid runners and shining a light on an industry that’s critical to a sustainable future.

Mikael Staffas, CEO of Boliden

The World’s Deepest Marathon will bring together CEOs, industry leaders, and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds – many of whom will be running their first marathon, but all united by a spirit of challenge and a commitment to social impact.

– END –

Resources

  • The World’s Deepest Marathon website can be found here
  • A media pack with supporting imagery can be downloaded from here (including promotional imagery and diagrams)
  • Interviews and quotes are available on request

  • For more information, content and interviews, please contact:

    Brunswick Group:

    Carole Cable

    Pip Green

    Tom Pigott

    WDM@brunswickgroup.com T: +442074045959

    BecomingX: media@becomingx.com T: +447919485266

Notes to Editors

About BecomingX

BecomingX is a learning and development company set up to create a world where everyone can realise their potential. We work with some of the world’s leading companies to develop high performing employees, helping them to build the skills, knowledge, attitudes and relationships needed to succeed. BecomingX is ‘B Corporation’, certified to meet the highest social and environmental standards and is the highest scoring company in the UK. Find us at www.becomingx.com.

About ICMM

ICMM’s goal is to make responsible mining the global standard - creating safer workplaces, reducing environmental impact, and strengthening social outcomes. By driving higher industry standards, we will deliver high-impact improvements while fostering transparency, accountability, and trust in mining’s role in society. Find us at www.icmm.com

About Boliden

For a century, Boliden has been exploring, extracting and processing base metals and precious metals. Our production is based on experience, innovation and modern technology, developed in collaboration with Nordic technology and engineering companies. Today, we are an industry leader in terms of sustainable metal production from deposits to recycling used metals. Find us at www.boliden.com