Three alumni from Love Island USA’s season seven — Bryan Arenales, Nic Vansteenberghe and Elan Bibas — swapped villa drama for running bibs on Sunday, November 2, when they competed in the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon. Each completed the iconic 26.2-mile course through all five boroughs, joining a star-studded field that included actors, musicians and fellow reality stars. Their appearances added a reality-TV twist to an event renowned for elite competition and mass participation.
Love Island stars hit the five-borough course
Love Island stars brought the show’s post-villa hustle to Manhattan as the marathon returned for its 54th edition. Elan Bibas posted the strongest time of the trio, finishing in approximately 3:20:38, while Bryan Arenales and Nic Vansteenberghe completed the course in about 4:32:31 and 4:42:56 respectively. These finishes were confirmed in post-race coverage and official celebrity roundups.
The presence of Love Island stars on race day was part of a larger celebrity turnout — from Broadway actors to reality personalities — that helped spotlight the charity and team partnerships many celebs used the race to support. The New York Road Runners’ celebrity roster and media roundups listed both the Love Island trio and dozens of other high-profile entrants.
What this meant for the runners (and fans)
For viewers who followed season seven, seeing Bryan, Nic and Elan on the streets of New York staged a different kind of narrative: endurance and grit rather than coupling and twists. Bryan’s run was notable because it came only weeks after he tackled another World Marathon Major — Chicago — showing a quick turnaround that underlines how many reality stars have pivoted to endurance events off-camera. Elan’s sub-3:30 finish reinforced his known interest in fitness and endurance; Nic’s steady completion won praise from fans on social feeds.
These appearances also reflect a broader trend of reality TV alumni using major races to build personal brands, raise money for causes and show a different side of themselves to an engaged audience. Many reality stars have leaned into wellness and charity runs in the past few years — a strategy that creates feel-good headlines and genuine fundraising impact.
Race context and highlights
Beyond the celebrity lane, the 2025 NYC Marathon delivered headline performances on the elite front: Hellen Obiri set a new women’s course record and Benson Kipruto won a dramatic men’s race — achievements that dominated the professional coverage and framed the broader spectacle for casual and committed viewers alike. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of runners — from first-timers to seasoned road pros — completed the course, with celebrities woven into the human tapestry of the day.
Conclusion
For Love Island fans, Sunday’s marathon offered a welcome follow-up to the villa: a display of stamina and focus that translates well to social platforms and personal narratives. With Bryan, Nic and Elan now able to tout marathon medals and fundraising pages, expect more crossover appearances — from charity runs to fitness partnerships — as reality stars continue to trade roses for running shoes. The NYC Marathon also reminded audiences that, beyond TV personalities, this event remains a stage for elite records, community stories and personal milestones.
