Claire Lomas finishes the London Marathon. (©CarlCourt/AFP/Getty Images)

Paralyzed runner finishes marathon 16 days after start

5/8/2012

Claire Lomas just finished the London Marathon -- 16 days after it started. The 32-year-old athlete, who's been paralyzed from the chest down since 2007, completed the race wearing a $70,000 ReWalk bionic suit, which helped her to complete about two miles a day. Even more amazing (and enraging) than this feat? That London Marathon organizers wouldn't award Lomas a medal because she didn't finish the race the same day the race was held. Renegade Sir Richard Branson, the head of Virgin, which sponsored the race, took matters into his own hands and awarded her the Virgin Trophy for 2012. "We treasure amazing acts of bravery," Branson said. Hear, hear!

most recent

Does this woman deserve to get a medal?