New York Road Runners’ History of Advocacy and Support for Athletes with Disabilities

This month, New York Road Runners joins in celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26. We have a long history of inclusion of athletes with disabilities (AWDs) in our races and programs and a decades-long partnership with Achilles International, an organization that provides a community of support for AWDs. Here are highlights of that history.

1976 – Dick Traum becomes the first known amputee athlete to complete a marathon when he runs the New York City Marathon in 7:24.

1983 – Traum founds Achilles Track Club (now Achilles International) with the mission to enable people with all types of disabilities to participate in mainstream running events in order to promote personal achievement.

2000 – The New York City Marathon includes a professional wheelchair division for the first time, with Kamel Ayari of Tunisia winning the men’s race in 1:53:50 and Anh Nguyen Thi Xuan of Vietnam winning the women’s race in 2:46:47. 

2003 – The first Achilles Hope & Possibility race is held in Central Park

2010 – Prince Harry is on hand at the start and finish of Achilles H&P race.

2014 – The United Airlines NYC Half features its first professional wheelchair division. 

2014 – Kurt Fearnley of Australia wins the men’s wheelchair division of the TCS New York City Marathon for a record fifth time. 

2016 – NYRR launches the free Rising New York Road Runners Wheelchair Training Program for youth.

2016 – Tatyana McFadden of the United States wins her fifth women’s wheelchair division title at the TCS New York City Marathon. 

2018 – The NYRR New York Mini 10K features the world’s first women’s wheelchair division 10K, won by Susannah Scaroni of the United States; a wheelchair division is added to the accompanying Rising New York Road Runners at the NYRR New York Mini 10K youth race in 2019.

2018 – Edith Wolf Hunkeler of Switzerland, a five-time women’s wheelchair division New York City Marathon champion, is inducted into the NYRR Hall of Fame. 

2018 – Glenn Hartrick becomes the first athlete to cross the New York City Marathon finish line as a runner, handcycle athlete, and in a racing wheelchair. 

NYRR will continue to build toward an inclusive future for athletes of all abilities. This month and always, we honor all those who have overcome challenges.