London Marathon Revolutionizes Prize Money for Wheelchair Athletes
The London Marathon makes history by offering equal prize money to wheelchair and able-bodied elite racers, marking a major step towards equality in Athletics. Athletes and organizations applaud this groundbreaking move for its impact on disability sport and fairness.
London Marathon Pioneers Equality in Prize Money for Wheelchair and Able-Bodied Athletes
In a groundbreaking move for disability sport, the prestigious London Marathon has become the first in the world to establish equal prize money for its wheelchair and able-bodied elite races.
Effective from the 2024 edition on April 21st, the total prize pot will stand at $308,000 (£243,000), with all winners receiving $55,000 (£43,500), second-place finishers earning $30,000 (£24,000), and third-place athletes collecting $22,500 (£18,000). This represents a $54,500 (£43,000) increase to the wheelchair race prize money, ensuring parity across the board.
“This landmark move ensures the prize money available to our elite wheelchair athletes is exactly the same as for those in the able-bodied elite races,” he stated. “We are delighted to continue our commitment to disability sport and take another important step towards making the London Marathon the most diverse and equitable marathon in the world.”
The news has been hailed as a significant breakthrough for fairness and equality by Activity Alliance, the national charity for disabled people in sport. CEO Adam Blaze lauded the move, saying, “To see the London Marathon lead the way and create equal prize money is a huge positive step in making sports and physical activity fairer.”
Reactions from Wheelchair Racers
Eight-time London Marathon champion David Weir, who will be racing his 25th consecutive edition this year, echoed these sentiments. “This is a huge benchmark for disability sport, and I hope other races and sporting bodies can take note,” he remarked.
Weir will face off against the world’s undisputed number one wheelchair racer, Marcel Hug of Switzerland, who is seeking his fourth straight London victory. Hug praised the event’s commitment to equality, stating, “They are not just talking about equality but also demonstrating it.”
Elite Women’s Field
The women’s elite field is equally stacked, featuring the past four London Marathon champions: Madison de Rozario, Catherine Debrunner, Manuela Schar, and Nikita den Boer, along with rising British talent Eden Rainbow-Cooper. De Rozario, the reigning champion, highlighted the far-reaching impact of the prize money parity, saying, “This decision doesn’t just affect the athletes lining up in London in April, it has an overflow effect to not just how every other event values athletes with a disability, but how we view the 15 per cent of the global population living with disability.”
The 2024 London Marathon promises to be a landmark event, not only for the thrilling competition but also for its groundbreaking move towards true equality in the sport of Athletics.
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