A Marathon Effort: An insight into wheelchair marathons

Marathon Effort An insight into wheelchair marathons United Response support that changes with you LONDON MARATHON WINNERS 2013 Mens 12.5RPM 02:06:04 Marathon winner Average speed Finishing time Tsegaye Kebede 11.2MPX 02:20:15 Womens Marathon winner Average speed Finishing time Priscah Jeptoo 7.2MPH | 0:3:29 Mens Wheelchair D:3(29 Marathon winner Average speed Finishing time Kurt Fearnley Womens Wheelchair 4.8RPH 01:46:02 Marathon winner Average speed Finishing time Tatyana McFadden WHEELCHAIR TECHNICAL DETAILS Designed for competing on the track and road Lightweight aluminium or titanium frame 20" Carbon front wheel I 8kg total weight Custom built for each athlete - made to measure for an indiviudal's height and hip width Can reach max racing speed of up to 19mph HISTORY OF WHEELCHAIR MARATHONS 1923 First wheelchair games in the UK took place as a sports day for the patients and staff of the Royal Star and 1948 Garter Home in The first Paralympics took place at Stoke Mandeville Hospital (which pioneered the use of competitive Richmond, Surrey 1964 sports in the rehabilitation of those Tokyo, Japan hosted games for disabled people shortly after the Olympics, which injured in WW2) saw the first introduction of 1970 wheelchair racing Eugene Roberts, a Vietnam veteran, became the first athlete to complete a 1974 wheelchair marathon The first wheelchair as an unofficial marathon took place in Toledo, Ohio in participant of the Boston Marathon 1974 and the event in around 7 hours was integrated into the Boston Marathon the following year 1984 The Paralympic Games at Stoke Mandeville, in 1984, heralded in the first real use of specialist sporting wheelchairs United Response is a UK charity and works with individuals who suffer from both learning and physical disabilities, providing tailored support and person-centred care. They assist individuals and empower them to become independent. United Response, Vantage House, 1 Weir Road, Wimbledon Park, London, SW19 8UX Tel: 020 8246 5200 United Response Email: [email protected] support that changes with you Registered charity no. 265249 Sources: www.virginlondonmarathon.com www.topendwheelchair.com www.bwra.co.uk/history.html