The sequence left its mark on the spectators on the Pont Alexandre-III. On Sunday, September 8, in one of the final events of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, blind marathon runner Elena Congost was forced to slow down a few meters from the finish line to come to the aid of her guide. Struggling, riddled with cramps, the latter – Mia Carol Brugera – had difficulty finishing the race, and nearly collapsed, as her athlete was about to cross the line in third position, winning the bronze medal. Supported by the marathon runner, the two finished the event, 12 minutes and 12 seconds after the winner, cheered by the crowd.
This end of the race could have remained as one of the last beautiful images of the Paris 2024 Games. But Elena Congost was disqualified by the organizers, for having briefly let go of the rope that connected her to her guide during this catch-up two meters from the finish line. In this T12 category (with a visual impairment), the athletes are attached to their guides by a cord at the wrist, and are neither allowed to be towed nor to “cut” this link.
Read also | Article reserved for our subscribers From chaos to “enchanted parenthesis”: July 26, the day that changed everything at the Paris 2024 Games
Add to your selections
“Devastated”the Catalan athlete, announced that she was filing a protest, with the support of the Spanish Paralympic Committee, considering the decision cruel. Although she acknowledged having briefly violated the rules, which stipulate that the guide and the athlete cannot let go of the rope that connects them throughout the 42.195 km of the race, Elena Congost insisted that she had not acted “only by reflex”without any intention of cheating.
“I was not disqualified for cheating, but for being human and for a reflex that occurs when someone falls, which is to help or support them.the athlete told Spanish media in tears after his disqualification was announced. I let go of the rope for a second because the person next to me was falling and was going to hit the ground head first. I picked up the rope again and we crossed the finish line.”
The next competitor, the Japanese Misato Michishita – who took the bronze – arrived only three minutes after the Spaniard, who therefore denies having gained any gain in the operation. “When there is no help, no benefit, you can clearly see that I stopped dead in my tracks because of this situationshe argues. But all that [les organisateurs] “They say that I let go of the rope for a second and from the moment I let go, it’s over, there’s no going back.”
You have 23.36% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
