South African wheelchair athlete Ernst van Dyk became the winningest winner in race history Monday morning when he won his tenth Boston Marathon in the men’s wheelchair competition.
Van Dyk, 41 years old, was born without legs but didn’t stop that from pursuing an athletic career. He has won six Paralympics medals including a gold, as well as two golds a silver and a bronze at the UCI World Championships.
He won his first Boston Marathon in 2001 and kept winning through 2006, won 2008–2010, and now has his tenth.
Van Dyk led from the start and crossed the line in 1:20:26, well ahead of the next two competitors, but it wasn’t an easy win, he told Universal Sports.
They were pretty close to me on Heartbreak Hill,“ he said, ”but I knew if I could crest it first they were never going to catch me.”
Van Dyk was visibly emotional after crossing the finish line.
“The last five miles was like coming through a tunnel of people,” he said.
“Last year was just terrible. Coming back and seeing how strong Boston is, seeing all the people coming back out—it’s a big moment.”
Official Men’s Push Rim Wheelchair Results:
1. Ernst Van Dyk (RSA) 1:20:36
T2. Kota Hokinoue (JPN) 1:21:14
T2. Masazumi Soejima (JPN) 12:21:14
4. Marcel Hug (SUI) 12:24:39
5. Jordi Madera (ESP) 12:24:42
6. Joshua George (Champaign, Ill.) 1:24.49
7. Tomasz Hamerlak (POL) 1:24:53
8. Hiroyuki Yamamoto (JPN) 1:25:15
9. James Senbeta (Champaign, Ill.) 1:25:23
10. Rawat Tana (THA) 1:26:54
