By David Coverdale
19:53 21 Feb 2024, updated 21:27 21 Feb 2024
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The London Marathon becomes the first to offer equal prize money to all athletesWheelchair racers will earn the same as the winners of the able-bodied eventsBritish racing David Weir said it is ‘a huge benchmark for disability sport’
The London Marathon has become the first marathon in the world to award equal prize money to wheelchair and able-bodied athletes.
Winners of the men’s and women’s wheelchair events on April 21 will each be paid £43,600 – the same as the runners who finish first in the elite men’s and women’s races. Runners-up of all events will earn £23,800, with third-place finishers claiming £17,800.
The landmark move has been hailed by David Weir, the record eight-time winner of the London Marathon wheelchair race.
‘London Marathon has again set the bar for parity across the racing divisions,’ said the British legend, who will be racing in the capital for a 25th consecutive time in April. ‘This is a huge benchmark for disability sport and I hope other races and sporting bodies can take note.’
Hugh Brasher, the London Marathon’s event director, added: ‘We are delighted to continue our commitment to disability sport with this landmark move that ensures the prize money available to our elite wheelchair athletes is exactly the same as for those in the able-bodied elite races.
David Weir has hailed London Marathon’s decision to offer the same prize money to all athletes Hugh Brasher, the London Marathon¿s event director, confirmed the prize money will be equal London Marathon organisers plan to mark the death of last year¿s champion Kelvin Kiptum
‘We have made great strides in recent years towards our ambition to make the TCS London Marathon the most diverse and equitable marathon in the world and this is another important step towards achieving that goal.’
London Marathon organisers also plan to mark the death of last year’s men’s champion Kelvin Kiptum at the race in April. They have delayed naming this year’s elite fields until next week to avoid a clash with the Kenyan’s funeral on Friday.
Share or comment on this article: The London Marathon makes landmark move to be the world’s first to award equal prize money to wheelchair and able-bodied athletes, which racing legend David Weir calls ‘a huge benchmark for disability sport’
Source link : https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-13110395/amp/The-London-Marathon-makes-landmark-worlds-award-equal-prize-money-wheelchair-able-bodied-athletes-racing-legend-David-Weir-calls-huge-benchmark-disability-sport.html
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Publish date : 2024-02-21 08:00:00
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