McFadden welcomes World Marathon Majors for wheelchair athletes
Wheelchair athlete superstar Tatyana McFadden will defend her women’s title at the Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday when she hopes to add a first IPC Athletics Marathon World Championships crown at the classic distance to her ever-swelling list of honours.
The American has been unstoppable in recent years, winning back-to-back marathons in Boston, London, Chicago and New York in 2013 and 2014. She won a record six gold medals at the World Championships in Lille two years ago, when she was unbeatable at all distances from 100m to 5000m in her T54 class, and added a silver medal for sit-skiing at the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympics.
On Monday, the ‘Beast’, as she’s nicknamed, claimed her third successive Boston title and she will be an overwhleming favourite to ‘three-peat’ in London too. Another victory here would secure the Boston London Challenge title – also for the thrid time – adding an extra $10,000 to her prize pot.
The London Marathon has increased its own awards for wheelchair athletes this year, with $20,000 going to the winners, while the financial incentives available to the world’s best were boosted still further by the news last week that the Abbott World Marathon Majors series is expanding to include wheelchair events from 2016 – all very welcome, according to McFadden.
“It’s amazing news,” said McFadden, who outlined the costs involved in staying competitive as a professional wheelchair athlete.
“It is important to ensure we parallel the sport between wheelchair athletes and runners. London does an amazing job at that, and wheelchair athletes have gone on to be stronger and better.
“To have a major international series like the World Marathon Majors for wheelchair athletes is absolutely phenomenal. It really steps up the game for us, and is really exciting leading up to the Paralympic Games in Rio next year.”
She also acknowledged the team around her who have helped her become the world’s top female wheelchair athlete.
“I’ve got a great support team,” she said. “As well as my coaches from the University of Illinois, which is a fantastic base for anyone wanting to do my sport.
“We’re able to access funding for the equipment needed in winter training and I train with around 25 of my team-mates.”
McFadden faces the usual tough field on Sunday, including Briton Shelly Woods.
The Blackpool athlete won her second London title in 2012 but has languished among the top six in every race since then. She has refound her form of late, however, training with her British teammate, David Weir, and a team of younger athletes at his Weir Archer Academy.
“Training with the next generation has inspired me,” said Woods. “I’ve prepared the best I can, so we’ll see what happens on the day.
“Tatyana is a phenomenal athlete, though. Her Boston Marathon was amazing.”
Another Briton hoping to find form is 19-year-old Jade Jones who completed her first marathon here last year, finishing just inside two hours.
The Middlesbrough athlete is trained by one of Britain’s greatest athletes, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, who won six London Marathon titles. Jones won the Virgin Money Giving Mini London Marathon three times before moving up in distance.
“I concentrate on middle distance usually but this is great experience,” she said.
Other contenders for the women’s T53/54 should not be ruled out either. They include defending world champion Manuela Schär of Switzerland and 2012 Paralympic champion Shirley Reilly from USA.
There are more past London winners too, such as Amanda McGrory from USA and Japan’s Wakako Tsuchida, so McFadden will have to be on her guard. But with gold medals and more money up for grabs, the incentive to win will be greater than ever.
