London: Claire Lomas, a paralysed woman, has become the first person to complete a marathon 16 days after the race began on April 22.
Wearing a bionic suit, 32-year-old Lomas, after finishing the London Marathon today, said she was “over the moon” as she completed the 26.2-mile route, which she started on April 22 with 36,000 other participants.
She broke into tears after becoming the first person to complete any marathon at 12.50 pm today. She was given guard of honours afterwards as she crossed the finishing line.
A jubilant-cum-emotional Lomas said, “I’m over the moon. “There were times when I questioned whether I would make it when I was training. Once I started, I just took each day as it came and every step got me a step closer.”
She was left paralysed after a horse-riding accident in 2007.
However, interestingly, she was not awarded a medal when she finished as, organisers said, the candidates had to complete the race on the same in order to qualify for the medal.
But a number of marathon runners decided to donate their own medals to Ms Lomas.
Among the people who donated her their medals was Jacqui Rose. She said, “She has epitomised what I thought the London Marathon was all about.
“That medal, when you have completed it and gone through all the pain of it, symbolises that achievement of what you have gone out of your way to do for charity.
“For her not to have got one ridicules what the marathon was all about.”
She walked about two miles a day, cheered on by husband Dan, her parents and 13-month-old daughter Maisie.
She said she was thinking to write a book.
Some celebrities also gave their precious time to Lomas by walking a mile with her.
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