In just one week, the proud runners crossing the finish line of the Sydney Marathon will receive a medal that commemorates the landmarks they just sped past - plus one they most certainly did not.

Organisers have copped to an 'unfortunate error': a stadium in Munich, Germany, was mistakenly etched onto the participation medal instead of a local Sydney landmark. The official Sydney Marathon Instagram account had earlier promised runners they'd 'find the story of the course in the details,' with 'a beautiful Sydney skyline' featuring the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Instead, the Allianz Arena - home to Bayern Munich - made the cut, while Allianz Stadium in Sydney, which the route actually passes, was left off.

A TCS Sydney Marathon spokesperson confessed on Sunday: 'A little too much international flavour has found its way onto the back of the finisher's medal, with an incorrect depiction of the stadium.' They added, 'We're not going to run from it, it was an unfortunate error, though it's certainly given everyone something to talk about this weekend, mostly in good humour.'

The BBC reported the mix-up, and running blogs had a field day. The Munich stadium itself chimed in on social media: 'Oh wow, we didn't have that on our bingo card!' The reverse of the medal, designed by First Nations artist Ambrose Killian, features an indigo and gold design representing the course's kilometres and the eight global major marathons. Killian noted he wasn't involved in the other side's design.

The marathon is set for 30 August. In 2025, about 35,000 runners from over 120 countries participated, marking its first year as a World Marathon Major. Organisers insist it's 'a beautiful medal, and now a little more unique,' and that 'what it represents does not change' - months of training, determination, and that unforgettable moment at the Opera House. They're grateful for the good humour and vow to focus on delivering a 'safe, spectacular and unforgettable weekend.'

This isn't the first time medals have gone sideways. In 2012, Edinburgh marathon finishers noticed their awards bore a striking resemblance to something else. This year, Winter Olympics medals cracked and snapped, and Paris 2024 bronze medals discoloured so quickly they had to be replaced. At least the Sydney medal didn't fall apart - just took a detour through Germany.