London Marathon gives equal prize money to wheelchair races

Prize money for the wheelchair races at the 2024 London Marathon will be the same as for able-bodied athletes as the event becomes the first marathon to make the two pots equal, organisers said on Thursday.

Published : Feb 22, 2024 15:44 IST , LONDON - 1 MIN READ

 London Marathon has set the bar for parity across the racing divisions, says David Weir, a six-time Paralympic gold medallist and eight-time London Marathon winner.
 London Marathon has set the bar for parity across the racing divisions, says David Weir, a six-time Paralympic gold medallist and eight-time London Marathon winner. | Photo Credit: AFP
infoIcon

 London Marathon has set the bar for parity across the racing divisions, says David Weir, a six-time Paralympic gold medallist and eight-time London Marathon winner. | Photo Credit: AFP

Prize money for the wheelchair races at the 2024 London Marathon will be the same as for able-bodied athletes as the event becomes the first marathon to make the two pots equal, organisers said on Thursday.

With an increase of $54,500, the prize pot for this year’s wheelchair race will be $308,000, matching that of the able-bodied athletes.

All four winners of the elite races will receive $55,000, with the runners-up earning $30,000 and third-place finishers $22,500.

“We are proud of our history in championing participants with disabilities (and) we are delighted to continue our commitment to disability sport with this landmark move,” said London Marathon Event Director Hugh Brasher.

READ | Equestrian Anush Agarwalla after claiming Olympic quota: Grateful and proud

“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.”

Britain’s David Weir, a six-time Paralympic gold medallist and eight-time London Marathon winner, hopes other events will make the same decision.

“Again London Marathon has set the bar for parity across the racing divisions,” Weir said.

“This is a huge benchmark for disability sport and I hope other races and sporting bodies can take note.”

The London Marathon takes place on April 21. 

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment