Patrick Downes crosses marathon finish line on handcycle
Boston Marathon bombing survivor Patrick Downes crossed the finish line on a handcycle Monday to huge cheers from the crowds on Boylston Street.
This was the third year that Downes, who lost his leg in the 2013 attacks, competed in the race in the handcycle division, having also done so in 2014 and 2015. Last year, he ran the marathon using a prosthetic.
CEO of @BAA @TomGrilk greets Patrick Downes upon his finish in the 2017 Boston Marathon. pic.twitter.com/UKUGZGOQb9
— Boston Marathon (@bostonmarathon) April 17, 2017
https://twitter.com/steveannear/status/854000013302779907
Bombing survivor Patrick Downes finishing the #BostonMarathon pic.twitter.com/op7XiaKXXU
— Zachary Comeau (@ZWComeau) April 17, 2017
At the beginning of April, Downes penned a critical opinion piece in The Boston Globe of the Boston Athletic Association’s restrictions on the handcycle division, for which winners previously did not receive announcements or wreaths. Much of the division is open to wounded veterans, according to the Globe.
In his letter, Downes referenced the support from veterans that he and his wife, Jessica Kensky, receive as patients at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Kensky lost both of her legs in the bombings.
On Tuesday, the head of the BAA pledged that changes would be made to make the marathon more welcoming to athletes with disabilities.
Before the start of Monday’s race, Downes said he hoped veterans will feel as accepted at the marathon as he and Kensky have felt at Walter Reed.
“When they come to Boston, our home, we want to make sure that they feel just as welcomed,” he said.
https://twitter.com/JessiWBZ/status/853958733143126016
