25 May 2026
A St Albans runner with Downs Syndrome has made history as the youngest woman in her category to ever complete a marathon.
Charlotte Laitner, 26, competed in the 2026 London Marathon, securing a Guinness World Record as the youngest female in her learning disability category to finish the iconic 26.2-mile course.
“I still can’t believe I have done it,” Charlotte told the St Albans Times.
“It was quite hard to carry on. I thought at the halfway point that I would give up and I just wanted to go home but I just kept going.
“I just put it in my head to keep going.”
Exhausted and aching, Charlotte stayed true to her word and found the strength to sprint down the Mall, crossing the finish line to finally feel the weight of the medal around her neck.
For Charlotte, the moment was surreal as the months of hard work finally paid off, made even better as she crossed the line flanked by her mum, Nicky, an
Charlotte’s journey began in 2023 when she ran the St Albans Half Marathon.
Coming from a keen family of runners, her mum alone having completed 11 marathons, Charlotte decided it was finally her “time to shine” after years of being the loudest cheerer on the sidelines.
She entered the London 2025 ballot with the rest of her family and, in a stroke of luck, was the only one to secure a place.
“Although we would never have dissuaded her from trying, it’s fair to say the rest of us were a little apprehensive and tried to explain just how tough the training was going to be,” her mum, Nicky, said.
“But Charlotte never doubted herself for a minute. She told us running the marathon was her goal and she was determined to do it.”
A bout of juvenile arthritis meant she had to defer her entry to 2026, but as soon as she was able, she began training in earnest.
Charlotte ran three to four times a week using a run-walk method.
As the marathon drew closer, Charlotte met Lloyd Martin who, in 2024, also made history as the youngest male in his learning disability category to complete a marathon.
Following this, Charlotte was put in touch with Special Olympics GB who helped her apply for a Guinness World record.
Ultimately, Charlotte smashed her sub-eight-hour goal and raised over £10,000 for DS Achieve, a charity which empowers children and young people with Down syndrome to fulfill their potential.
While she isn’t ruling out another marathon, Charlotte plans to keep challenging herself year on year.
When asked what advice she has for future runners, her advice was simple: “Just do it – make yourself proud.”
Words by Anna Shreeves
