A visually impaired marathon runner was disqualified from winning a bronze medal at the Paralympics after she momentarily released the tether connecting her to her guide, who stumbled just before the finish line.
Elena Congost of Spain was competing in the marathon on the final day of the Paralympics in Paris. Towards the end of the race, her guide, Mia Carol Bruguera, struggled with cramps and lost his balance just 10 yards from the finish.
@lepainole Jeux Paralympiques : au marathon, Elena Congost privée de médaille après avoir aidé son guide, à bout L’Espagnole Elena Congost, arrivée troisième sur l’épreuve du marathon T12 aux Jeux de Paris, a été disqualifiée. JEUX PARALYMPIQUES – Une déception immense. La para athlète espagnole Elena Congost, arrivée troisième ce dimanche 8 septembre lors du marathon en catégorie T-12, a finalement été disqualifiée. Dans les derniers mètres de la course, la marathonienne malvoyante a en effet aidé son guide, Mia Carol Bruguera, qui était en grande difficulté. Ce geste lui a coûté sa médaille de bronze. Impressionnant !!!!
♬ son original – diego
In an attempt to help, Congost briefly let go of the tether, a blatant rule violation. Although they quickly regained composure and finished the race in third place, more than three minutes ahead of the fourth-place runner, the brief release of the tether ultimately led to their disqualification.
Blind and visually impaired runners rely on guides to stay on course, with both athletes required to hold onto a tether throughout the race. The International Paralympic Committee did not provide an immediate comment on the disqualification.
Two Moroccan athletes, Fatima Ezzahra El Idrissi and Meryem En-Nourhi, claimed gold and silver, respectively. Following Congost’s disqualification, Japan’s Misato Michishita was awarded the bronze.
Speaking to the media following the incident, Congost explained to Marca, a Spanish sports outlet, “I wasn’t disqualified for cheating but for a natural reaction—helping someone who was falling. I’m devastated because I had the medal, but the rules are the rules. I’m proud of my effort, but there’s no reversing the decision.”
Congost was competing in the T12 classification for athletes with moderate visual impairment. She had previously won gold in the T12 marathon at the 2016 Rio Games. After taking time off from competition to have four children, now between the ages of 1 and 6, she made her return to the sport earlier this year.
