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Claire Lomas became the first person to complete a full marathon: and she is unable to use her legs.
5 years ago, 32 year old Lomas was paralysed from the chest down after she was thrown off the back of a horse. In 2012, she took on the challenge to run the 2012 London Marathon: in a bionic suit.
It took 16 days for Claire Lomas to cross the finish line, covering 3 to 4 kilometres per day, wearing her 20kg ReWalk suit. The $70 000 suit is designed to allow people with lower-limb paralysis to walk and stand.
“It was really emotional and I couldn’t believe the support — I’m still in shock really,” she told the BBC. “The last half a mile or so was pretty easy to walk because I had everyone just pushing me forward.”
Lomas didn’t receive the London Marathon medal, nor will her time be entered in the official record books, as she didn’t finish the race on the same day as the race (according to London Marathon rules). A number of outraged marathoners sent their medals to Lomas, and she will receive a special trophy from the race organizers.
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You can’t expect the organisers to have medical staff, water tables etc out there for 16 days for some one to do a marathon. I missed my first marathon by 5 min (5h05) yet I completely agree with the cut off. It has to be a challenge, what next? Someone finishes in 360 days, doing 100m a day to get a medal?
Yes, she should have. There is a big difference in awarding the medal to a person taking 16 days that is not disabled and a person that is disabled. This took a lot of guts, one medal wo’t cost them anything, but will mean a lot to Claire.
I must agree with Wendy. This is something extraordinary and should have been rewarded with a medal. If a normal persons mis the cut off you can try again next year….this is a once off challenge for Claire.