paralympics marathon runner disqualified : In a dramatic turn of events at the Paris Paralympics, Spanish marathon runner Elena Congost was stripped of her bronze medal just meters from the finish line, sparking a heated debate over the rules governing guide runners in the T12 category. The disqualification occurred after a brief moment of oversight when Congost’s guide, Mia Carol, suffered a cramp late in the race.
Congost, who has a degenerative hereditary eye disease, was devastated after officials ruled that she had broken the regulations by momentarily letting go of the rope that tethered her to Carol. Runners in the T12 event, which is designed for athletes with visual impairments, are required to remain connected to their guides for the entire duration of the race.
“I’m devastated, to be honest, because I had the medal,” Congost said through tears. “It was a reflex act to hold onto someone who is falling next to you. But they say I let go of the rope for a second, and since I let it go, there’s no turning back. I don’t understand that.”
Congost’s disqualification resulted in Japan’s Misato Michishita being awarded the bronze medal. Despite the heartbreak, Congost’s achievements in the Paralympics are notable; she previously won gold in the marathon at the Rio Games and silver in the 1500 meters at London 2012.
In a remarkable achievement, Moroccan runner Fatima El Idrissi set a new world record with a time of 2 hours, 48 minutes, and 36 seconds to win gold. Fellow Moroccan Meryem En-Nourhi secured silver. El Idrissi, who broke Michishita’s previous record by nearly six minutes, noted that her primary goal was to win the gold medal, not to set a new world record.
“I wasn’t running for a time, only for a medal,” El Idrissi said. “I wasn’t aiming to get the world record, just to get the gold, and now I have both.”
The controversy surrounding Congost’s disqualification highlights the stringent regulations governing the T12 category and raises questions about the fairness and implementation of such rules. As the Paralympic community reflects on this incident, the focus remains on ensuring that the spirit of the competition and the integrity of the athletes are upheld.
