Marathons at the Paralympics
Marathon events have been held at the Summer Paralympic Games, for both men and women, since the 1984 Summer Paralympics in Stoke Mandeville and New York City.[1][2] They are held as part of the Paralympic athletics programme.
Since the 1996 Games in Atlanta, marathon events, along with all other track events, have been categorised as follows:[3][4][5]
- Visually impaired athletes compete in categories T11, T12 and T13, based on their level of disability. Totally blind athletes compete in T11 events, and are permitted to run with a sighted guide. (In 1996 only, the categories were named T10, T11 and T12, and blind athletes were thus categorised "T10".) The marathon for visually impaired athletes is held only for men, and in 2008, no marathon was held in categories T11 or T13, leaving the men's T12 marathon as the sole event for visually impaired athletes. The same was true in 2012.
- Athletes with lower limb amputations, competing with prosthetics, run in categories T42 to T44, depending on their level of disability. In the marathon, athletes in these categories were able to compete only in 1996, when they were grouped together in a single event. The event was held for men only.
- Athletes with upper limb amputations compete in category T46. The marathon in this category exists only for men. In 1996, they ran mixed with lower limb amputees. In 2000, they were awarded their distinct race, which was cancelled in 2004 and restored in 2008.
- Wheelchair athletes compete in categories T51 to T54. These are the only categories open to women as well as men for the marathon. In 2008, three marathons were held in these categories: T52 for men, T54 for men and T54 for women. In 2012, there were only two: the men's T54 and the women's T54.
Heinrich Koeberle of Germany, active from 1984 to 2000, is the most successful Paralympic marathon competitor to date, having won four gold medals and one silver. Among the women, Connie Hansen of Denmark and Jean Driscoll of the United States have each won two Paralympic marathons.[6][7]
Results by Games[8][9]
1984
At the 1984 Games in Stoke Mandeville and New York, seven marathons were held for men, and four for women, all for wheelchair athletes. In the men's event 1A, only three runners started the race: Heinrich Koeberle from West Germany, his compatriot H. Lobbering (full name not recorded), and Rainer Kueschall of Switzerland. Only Koeberle reached the finish line.[10] In women's event 5, there were only two competitors, both from Mexico. Both reached the finish line.[11]
Men's events
Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
Marathon 1A details | Heinrich Koeberle![]() | ||
Marathon 1B details | J. Matsson![]() | Peter Schmid![]() | Ronan Rooney![]() |
Marathon 1C details | Alan Dufty![]() | D. Wallen![]() | Eduardo Monsalvo![]() |
Marathon 2 details | Heinz Frei![]() | Paul Clark![]() | Graham Condon![]() |
Marathon 3 details | André Viger![]() | Gregor Golombek![]() | R. Sampson![]() |
Marathon 4 details | Rick Hansen![]() | Jean Francois Poitevin![]() | R. Minor![]() |
Marathon 5 details | Mel Fitzgerald![]() | B. Hedrick![]() | Tom Foran![]() |
Women's events
Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
Marathon 2 details | J. Schiff![]() | Patricia Hill![]() | Dora Garcia![]() |
Marathon 3 details | G. Beyer![]() | Julie Russell![]() | D. Smith![]() |
Marathon 4 details | J. Randles![]() | Kay McShane![]() | S. Norman![]() |
Marathon 5 details | Juana Soto![]() | E. Belmont![]() |
1988
The number of events at the 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul was expanded to eleven for men, but restricted to three for women (with category 5 being closed).
Men's events
Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
Marathon 1A details | Heinrich Koeberle![]() | Rainer Kueschall![]() | Bart Dodson![]() |
Marathon 1B details | Serge Raymond![]() | Jan-Owe Mattsson![]() | Clayton Gerein![]() |
Marathon 1C details | John Brewer![]() | Alan Dufty![]() | Johann Kastner![]() |
Marathon 2 details | Marc Quessy![]() | Paul Clark![]() | Michael Trujillo![]() |
Marathon 3 details | André Viger![]() | Urs Scheidegger![]() | Phil Carpenter![]() |
Marathon 4 details | Jean Francois Poitevin![]() | Farid Amarouche![]() | Rafael Ibarra![]() |
Marathon 5-6 details | Jonathon Puffenberger![]() | Tom Foran![]() | Georg Schrattenecker![]() |
Marathon A1–3/A9/L1–2 details | Mustapha Badid![]() | Philippe Couprie![]() | Ted Vince![]() |
Marathon B1 details | Joerund Gaasemyr![]() | David Jakubovich![]() | Carlos Roberto Sestrem![]() |
Marathon B2 details | Stephen Brunt![]() | Paul Collet![]() | David Mills![]() |
Marathon B3 details | Carlos Talbott![]() | Mark Farnell![]() | Wieslaw Miech![]() |
Women's events
Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
Marathon 2 details | Tami Oothoudt![]() | Ann Walters![]() | Patricia Hill![]() |
Marathon 3 details | Candace Cable-Brooks![]() | Sherry Ann Ramsey![]() | Itsuko Maeda![]() |
Marathon 4 details | Connie Hansen![]() | Tracy Miller![]() | Kay McShane![]() |
1992
At the 1992 Games in Barcelona, the number of events for men was cut to six: three for wheelchair athletes, and three for visually impaired athletes. The number of events for women was further reduced, down to one, for wheelchair athletes.
Men's events
Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
Marathon B1 details | Carlo Durante![]() | Tofiri Kibuuka![]() | Steve Brooks![]() |
Marathon B2 details | Stephen Brunt![]() | José Ortiz![]() | Paul Collet![]() |
Marathon B3 details | Mark Farnell![]() | Anton Sluka![]() | Timo Pulkkinen![]() |
Marathon TW1 details | Heinrich Koeberle![]() | Rainer Kueschall![]() | Giuseppe Forni![]() |
Marathon TW2 details | Clayton Gerein![]() | Christoph Etzlstorfer![]() | Greg Smith![]() |
Marathon TW3–4 details | Heinz Frei![]() | Claude Issorat![]() | Jeddie Schabort![]() |
Women's event
Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
Marathon TW3–4 details | Connie Hansen![]() | Jennette Jansen![]() | Lily Anggreny![]() |
1996
At the 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta, the current categorisation system was introduced. Seven events were held for men, and one for women.
Men's events
Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
Marathon T10 details | Harumi Yanagawa![]() | Carlo Durante![]() | Nicolas Ledezma![]() |
Marathon T11 details | Waldemar Kikolski![]() | Tomasz Chmurzynski![]() | Francisco Perez![]() |
Marathon T12 details | Anton Sluka![]() | Mark Farnell![]() | J. Onofre da Costa![]() |
Marathon T42–46 details | Javier Conde![]() | Joseba Larrinaga![]() | Mark Brown![]() |
Marathon T50 details | Heinrich Koeberle![]() | Bart Dodson![]() | Tim Johansson![]() |
Marathon T51 details | Brent McMahon![]() | Clayton Gerein![]() | Patrick Cottini![]() |
Marathon T52–53 details | Franz Nietlispach![]() | Kazuya Murozuka![]() | Heinz Frei![]() |
Women's event
Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
Marathon T52–53 details | Jean Driscoll![]() | Kazu Hatanaka![]() | Deanna Sodoma![]() |
2000
The same number of events (seven for men, one for women) were maintained at the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney.
Men's events
Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
Marathon T11 details | Carlos Amaral Ferreira![]() | Robert Matthews![]() | Carlo Durante![]() |
Marathon T12 details | Waldemar Kikolski![]() | Stephen Brunt![]() | Moises Beristain![]() |
Marathon T13 details | Ildar Pomykalov![]() | Anton Sluka![]() | Roy Daniell![]() |
Marathon T46 details | Javier Conde![]() | Mark Brown![]() | Michael Keohane![]() |
Marathon T51 details | Alvise de Vidi![]() | Heinrich Koeberle![]() | Thorsten Oppold![]() |
Marathon T52 details | Clayton Gerein![]() | Christoph Etzlstorfer![]() | Thomas Geierspichler![]() |
Marathon T54 details | Franz Nietlispach![]() | Krige Schabort![]() | Heinz Frei![]() |
Women's event
Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
Marathon T54 details | Jean Driscoll![]() | Kazu Hatanaka![]() | Wakako Tsuchida![]() |
2004
At the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, the number of events for men was reduced to five (one for totally blind athletes, one for visually impaired athletes, and three for wheelchair athletes), while a single wheelchair event was maintained for women.
Men's events
Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
Marathon T11 details | Yuichi Takahashi![]() | Carlos Ferreira![]() | Andrea Cionna![]() |
Marathon T13 details | Ildar Pomykalov![]() | Roy Daniell![]() | Linas Balsys![]() |
Marathon T51 details | Alvise De Vidi![]() | Stefan Strobel![]() | Edgar Navarro![]() |
Marathon T52 details | Toshihiro Takada![]() | Thomas Geierspichler![]() | Clayton Gerein![]() |
Marathon T54 details | Kurt Fearnley![]() | Kelly Smith![]() | Tomasz Hamerlak![]() |
Women's event
Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
Marathon T54 details | Kazu Hatanaka![]() | Wakako Tsuchida![]() | Cheri Blauwet![]() |
2008
At the 2008 Games in Beijing, the number of events for men was again reduced, down to four (one for visually impaired athletes, one for upper limb amputees, two for wheelchair athletes), while a single women's wheelchair event was maintained.
Men's events
Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
Marathon T12 details | Qi Shun![]() | Elkin Serna![]() | Ildar Pomykalov![]() |
Marathon T46 details | Mario Santillan![]() | Tito Sena![]() | Walter Endrizzi![]() |
Marathon T52 details | Thomas Geierspichler![]() | Hirokazu Ueyonabaru![]() | Toshihiro Takada![]() |
Marathon T54 details | Kurt Fearnley![]() | Hiroki Sasahara![]() | Ernst van Dyk![]() |
Women's event
Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
Marathon T54 details | Edith Hunkeler![]() | Amanda McGrory![]() | Sandra Graf![]() |
2012
At the 2012 Games in London, the number of events for men was once more reduced, down to three (one for visually impaired athletes, one for upper limb amputees, one for wheelchair athletes), while a single women's wheelchair event was maintained.
Men's events
Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
Marathon T12 details | Alberto Suarez Laso![]() | Elkin Serna![]() | Abderrahim Zhiou![]() |
Marathon T46 details | Tito Sena![]() | Abderrahman Khamouch![]() | Frederic Van den Heede![]() |
Marathon T54 details | David Weir![]() | Marcel Hug![]() | Kurt Fearnley![]() |
Women's event
Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
Marathon T54 details | Shirley Reilly![]() | Shelly Woods![]() | Sandra Graf![]() |
2016
In Rio de Janeiro, Three men's marathons and two women's marathons were contested on 18 September 2016.
2020
The 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the marathon events held on 5 September 2021. The men's marathon was held in the T12, T46, and T54 classifications, and the women's marathon in T12 and T54.
2024
Four marathon events, T12 and T54 for both men and women, will be contested on 8 September 2024 in Paris.
Medal table
Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 9 | 8 | 10 | 27 |
2 | ![]() | 9 | 4 | 6 | 19 |
3 | ![]() | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 |
4 | ![]() | 5 | 3 | 3 | 11 |
5 | ![]() | 4 | 6 | 3 | 13 |
6 | ![]() | 4 | 6 | 2 | 12 |
7 | ![]() | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
8 | ![]() | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
9 | ![]() | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
10 | ![]() | 2 | 5 | 1 | 8 |
11 | ![]() | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
12 | ![]() | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 |
13 | ![]() | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
14 | ![]() | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
15 | ![]() | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
16 | ![]() | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
![]() | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
![]() | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
19 | ![]() | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
![]() | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
21 | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
22 | ![]() | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
23 | ![]() | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
24 | ![]() | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
![]() | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
26 | ![]() | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
![]() | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
![]() | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
29 | ![]() | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
![]() | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
![]() | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
![]() | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
Totals (32 entries) | 63 | 66 | 61 | 190 |
Notes
- ^ "Medallists by Event: Athletics: Men's Marathon", International Paralympic Committee
- ^ "Medallists by Event: Athletics: Women's Marathon", International Paralympic Committee
- ^ "A-Z of Paralympic classification", British Broadcasting Corporation
- ^ "Medallists by Event: Athletics: Men's Marathon", International Paralympic Committee
- ^ "Medallists by Event: Athletics: Women's Marathon", International Paralympic Committee
- ^ "Medallists by Event: Athletics: Men's Marathon", International Paralympic Committee
- ^ "Medallists by Event: Athletics: Women's Marathon", International Paralympic Committee
- ^ "Medallists by Event: Athletics: Men's Marathon", International Paralympic Committee
- ^ "Medallists by Event: Athletics: Women's Marathon", International Paralympic Committee
- ^ "New York / Stoke Mandeville 1984 Paralympic Games: Athletics: Men's Marathon 1A", International Paralympic Committee
- ^ "New York / Stoke Mandeville 1984 Paralympic Games: Athletics: Women's Marathon 5", International Paralympic Committee