Written by David Coverdale
19:53 February 21, 2024, Updated 19:53 February 21, 2024
- London Marathon will be the first event to offer equal prize money to all athletes
- Prize money for wheelchair racers is the same as for winners of able-bodied events
- British Horse Racing’s David Weir said this was a “huge benchmark for disability sport”
The London Marathon became the first marathon in the world to award equal prize money to athletes in wheelchairs and able-bodied athletes.
The winners of the men’s and women’s wheelchair events on April 21 will each receive £43,600, the same amount as the runners who placed first in the elite men’s and women’s races. The runner-up in all events will earn him £23,800 and the third place player will receive £17,800.
The ground-breaking move was welcomed by David Weir, a record eight-time London Marathon wheelchair race winner.
“The London Marathon has once again set a standard of parity across the racing sector,” said the British legend, who will race in the capital for the 25th consecutive time in April. “This is a huge benchmark for disability sport and I hope other races and sporting bodies take note.”
Hugh Brasher, event director at the London Marathon, said: “This ground-breaking move, which ensures that elite wheelchair athletes receive exactly the same prize money as able-bodied elite athletes, is a strong commitment to disability sport. I’m glad to be able to continue,” he added. race.
“We have made significant progress in recent years towards our goal of making 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 organizers also plan to commemorate the death of last year’s men’s winner Kelvin Kiptum at the April race. They have postponed the naming of this year’s elite fields until next week to avoid conflict with a Kenyan funeral on Friday.