Emile Cairess dedicates London Marathon effort to cousin

Emile Cairess, 26, who grew up in Saltaire and is a former Bradford Grammar School pupil (BGS), put in a stunning effort on Sunday to finish third in the famous race, with the second-fastest time by a British man in two hours, six minutes, and 46 seconds.

It is the first time a British man has made the top three since Sir Mo Farah in 2018.

The run should rubber-stamp his place in the Great Britain team for this summer’s Olympics in France.

But Cairess’s immediate thoughts were with his 22-year-old cousin, Oliver Burton, who was left in a coma after a car crash earlier this year.

He is still in hospital but now out of intensive care.

Ex-student and Team GB athlete Emile Cairess leads pupils in a cross country session at Bradford Grammar School in 2019 (Image: Other)

Cairess said: “He’s my little cousin, like a little brother to me, and a couple of months ago he was in a bad accident.

“He was in a coma for about a month and just came out of ICU a few days ago,

“It was so stressful, it was touch and go at some points but he’s made a fantastic recovery in the last couple of weeks.

“This morning I was really emotional. Hopefully I’ve made him proud today.”

Emile Cairess in action at the London Marathon on Sunday (Image: PA)

There was plenty of support from Cairess's former school, which he left in 2016.

BGS Headteacher, Dr Simon Hinchcliffe, head of Bradford Grammar Junior School, Richard Ribeiro, and the Old Bradfordians, which is dedicated to celebrating the success of former students, were keeping an eye on their former athletics star.

Old Bradfordians said on X: "All eyes this Sunday morning are on OB Emile Cairess (2016), looking to retain the title of fastest British man at this year’s London Marathon.

"From everyone at BGS and our OB community, we sincerely wish Emile the best of luck!"

Dr Hinchcliffe, said: "Watching on the telly & rooting for Emile every step of the way!"

Mr Ribeiro said: "Watching the London Marathon with pride, you continue to inspire us, as we cheer you on today. Go Emile!!"

Cairess on the podium with his medal (Image: PA)

Cairess's time fell just short of breaking Sir Mo Farah's British marathon record of 2:05:11, and it comes a year after the Bradfordian beat the four-time Olympic gold medalist in his debut London Marathon.

But the 26-year-old did not even know he was third, behind winner Alexander Munyao of Kenya and 41-year-old Kenenisa Bekele, until about 200m from the finish line.

Cairess said: “I heard it over the tannoy.

"I passed about four people in the space of a minute around the 39km mark and I thought I’d already passed a few from the front group.

“I was like ‘there can’t be many more left so I must be in a decent position’ but I didn’t know, I could have been sixth or seventh. When I heard I was third it was a great feeling.”

Another Briton, Mahamed Mahamed, finished fourth, making it the first time two home runners have finished in the top four since Kevin Forster and Hugh Jones in 1988.

After the marathon, Old Bradfordians said on X: "London Marathon 2024. Hocage sprit running through the streets of London and our Old Bradfordian on the podium."

Dr Hinchcliffe said: "Magic! Well done, Emile, we are all incredibly proud of you!"