PARALYMPIC GAMES – A huge disappointment. Spanish para-athlete Elena Congost, who came third on Sunday, September 8, in the T-12 category marathon, was ultimately disqualified. In the final meters of the race, the visually impaired marathon runner helped her guide, Mia Carol Bruguera, who was in great difficulty. This gesture cost her her bronze medal.
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Arriving a few meters from the finish line, after a perfectly controlled race, Elena Congost noticed that her partner was exhausted, suffering from cramps on the final straight, as you can (re)see belowThe para-athlete then decided to help him, encouraging him to take a few more steps and pulling him along using the bond that united them.
Unfortunately, the 36-year-old Catalan briefly let go of the rope that connected her to her 57-year-old partner. However, Paralympic regulations stipulate that the athlete is not allowed to let go or shorten their connection with the guide. After thinking she had won the bronze medal, she was finally informed of her disqualification.
It is unclear what request led to this disqualification, it could have come from a complaint by a competing delegation or an initiative by the organizers aimed at a strict application of the rules. The Spanish delegation has appealed to contest this decision, reported the media Relevo.
Frenchwoman Rosario Murcia-Gangloff finishes sixth
It was finally the Japanese Misato Michishita who climbed onto the third step of the podium, with a time of 3 hours and 4 minutes, behind the Moroccan para-athletes Meryem En-Nourhi, rewarded with the silver medal for her time of 2 hours 58, and Fatima Ezzahra El Idrissi, crowned Olympic champion with a time of 2 hours and 48 minutes.
Frenchwoman Rosario Murcia-Gangloff took sixth place, finishing the event exhausted, at the age of 59. as you can see below.
« It was a very difficult marathon, but I’m not going to say “despite my age”. There is no age, I’m still a young girl, I’m at my ideal weight when I was 20!declared the dean of the French delegation at the end of the event. “When you embark on a project, there is no sacrifice. I had no right to give up. I am proud to be French, to have my family behind me,” she also said, thinking fondly of her three children. She is now aiming for the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
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