Switzerland’s Marcel Hug secured his ninth men’s wheelchair title at the Boston Marathon 2026. Known as the “Silver Bullet” for his signature silver helmet, Hug crossed the finish line with an unofficial time of 1:16:05.
Hug set the pace early and never allowed the field to close the gap. His win added to an already unmatched record in Boston’s wheelchair division. American racer Daniel Romanchuk finished second in 1:22:44, while the Netherlands’ Jetze Plat took third place in 1:24:13.
Who claimed women’s wheelchair crown?
Britain’s Eden Rainbow-Cooper won the women’s wheelchair race with an unofficial time of 1:30:51. She broke away from the competition and finished several minutes clear of the field, reported CBS News. It marked her second Boston title after her breakthrough win in 2024, when she became the first British woman to win the division.
Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner placed second in 1:32:59, while American veteran Tatyana McFadden finished third in 1:36:43. Other strong contenders included Manuela Schar and Australia’s Madison de Rozario, but none could match Rainbow-Cooper’s pace on race day.
What’s the prize money?
The total prize pool for the 2026 race stood at $1,284,500, an increase of $70,000 from the previous year, reported NBC Sports. The money is split equally between men and women across the open, masters and wheelchair categories. The organisers also offered a $50,000 bonus for course record performances in both open and wheelchair races.
The 2026 edition followed a competitive 2025 race that saw Kenya’s John Korir win the men’s open title in 2:04:45. His victory came years after his brother Wesley Korir achieved the same feat in 2012. In the women’s open race, Sharon Lokedi surged late to win in 2:17:22, beating compatriot Hellen Obiri and setting a course record, reported CBS.
In the wheelchair divisions last year, Hug had already shown his strength by winning his eighth title, while American racer Susannah Scaroni claimed the women’s title after returning from injury.