A teen with Down syndrome set a new world record by completing the TCS London Marathon, becoming the youngest person with Down syndrome to complete a marathon.
Lloyd Martin from Camberley, Surrey, completed the TCS London Marathon in 6 hours, 46 minutes, and 10 seconds, setting a new world record, according to Special Olympics.
His mom, Ceri Hooper, who has run six marathons and achieved a Welsh national record in the 2021 London Marathon, supported him.
“It was an incredible performance from Lloyd, and we were very emotional at the finish line,” said Ceri.
Over 50,000 runners, including elite and charitable participants, joined the London Marathon, breaking records with 578,000 entries in the ballot, making it the most popular marathon globally.
Lloyd, a teen with Down syndrome, received a Guinness World Records certificate for becoming the youngest person to complete a marathon in the intellectual impairment category (LL2), as announced in the record book on X.
Lloyd found joy in the crowd’s support, high-fiving and even doing cartwheels.
Despite facing difficulty around the 18-mile mark, he persevered, energized by the crowd’s enthusiasm towards the end of the race.
The teenager and his mother were emotional and cried after finishing the race.
Ceri mentioned that for Lloyd, it was like fulfilling his dream.
“Really, anything is possible if you put your mind to it. With a bit of work, you can achieve it,” she added.
The teen with Down syndrome ran his longest distance, 14 miles, without stopping in the marathon, then walked the rest to the finish line, cheered by the crowd.
Ceri found the experience challenging and enjoyable, highlighting its importance for individuals with Down syndrome.
When they crossed the finish line, they were both moved to tears.
“We did not say a lot when we crossed the finish line. We just both burst into tears,” she said.
His progress in sports highlights that individuals with intellectual disabilities can achieve remarkable things.
Lloyd has been involved in sports since childhood, including gymnastics and football with Ascot United Warriors.
He also took part in a pilot program at Topgolf Surrey. While he’s experienced with Park Runs, the TCS London Marathon is his first race beyond 5km.
Special Olympics Great Britain’s collaboration with the Activity Alliance and London Marathon Events made his participation possible.
“Moving from three-mile runs to a 26.2-mile marathon inside five months is a remarkable achievement and we’re so proud of what Lloyd has achieved,” said Laura Baxter, Special Olympics Great Britain Chief Executive.
On Good Morning Britain, Lloyd encouraged aspiring marathoners to pursue their dreams and enjoy the journey rather than focusing solely on timing, per Rollercoaster.ie.
An experienced runner, Ceri coached Lloyd for five months, expressing immense pride in his accomplishment and emphasizing that “anything is possible.”
She shared their struggles with sports club rejections due to Lloyd’s disability, highlighting the challenges faced by individuals with Down’s syndrome.
Ceri hopes Lloyd’s story inspires others to overcome obstacles and follow their dreams.
Apart from Lloyd, James Wyatt, a Special Olympics Derbyshire athlete and member of the Athlete Leadership Team, finished the TCS London Marathon in 4 hours, 28 minutes, and 52 seconds.
Also, Michael Beynon, a Special Olympics athlete from North East Wales, finished the virtual London Marathon at home in 7 hours, 31 minutes, and 11 seconds.
Meanwhile, Peres Jepchirchir, the current Olympic marathon champion, broke the record for the fastest women’s-only marathon in the 44th race, Independent noted.
She ran ahead in the last 300 meters and finished in 2 hours, 16 minutes, and 16 seconds, beating Mary Keitany’s record.
Alexander Mutiso Munyao won the men’s race in 2 hours, 4 minutes, and 1 second, beating Kenenisa Bekele, who came second.
Marcel Hug won the men’s wheelchair race, and Catherine Debrunner won the women’s event.
More politicians, including Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, joined the marathon.
Before it started, there was a 30-second applause to remember Kelvin Kiptum, last year’s winner, who died in a car accident.
Watch the inspiring moment when Lloyd Martin, a teen with Down syndrome, crosses the marathon’s finish line:
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Yes I think you should of gave her extra money.