Marcel Hug

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Prince Harry poses with the USA's Tatanya Mcfadden and Switzerland's Marcel Hug after both won the 2016 Virgin Money London Marathon. © • Getty Images Switzerland's Marcel Hug after competing in the Rio 2016 test event in May. © • IPC Prawat Wahoram of Thailand and Marcel Hug of Switzerland lead the pack in heat one of the men's 5000m meter T54 at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. © • Getty Images Swiss 'silver bullet' Marcel Hug finally got the gold he had been waiting for at Rio 2016. © • OIS Marcel Hug of Switzerland crosses the finish line to win the men's push rim wheelchair race during the 120th Boston Marathon on April 18, 2016 in Boston. © • Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Marcel Hug competes in the Men's 1500m - T54 heats at the London Paralympics © • Getty Images Silver medalist Marcel Hug of Switzerland, Gold medalist David Weir of Great Britain and bronze medalist Saichon Konjen of Thailand pose on the during the medal ceremony for Men's 800m - T54 Final at the London 2012 Paralympic Games © • Getty Images

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The “Swiss Silver Bullet” came of age at his fourth Paralympic Games, finally winning Paralympic gold not once, but twice.

Hug made his Paralympic debut as an 18-year-old in Athens in 2004, taking bronze in the 800m and 1,500m. In the years up to Rio 2016 he somehow failed to win Paralympic gold despite being one of the dominant forces in the hugely competitive men’s T54 class.

At Beijing 2008 he failed to medal and at London 2012 had to settle for silver in the 800m and marathon as Great Britain’s David Weir won gold in the 800m, 1,500m, 5,000m and marathon.

The year prior to the Rio 2016 Paralympics, Hug had, for him, a poor World Championships in Doha, Qatar. He had to make do with one bronze (800m) and one silver medal (5,000m).

In Rio, Hug did not get off to the best start. Silver medal finishes in the 1,500m and 5,000m made it look as if Paralympic gold would elude him again.

By the time he lined up in the 800m final it was his 19th attempt at wining Paralympic gold. He left nothing to chance, leading the field throughout, and as he crossed the line in first he showed a rare emotional side as he punched the air and screamed in delight.

By winning gold in the marathon days later, Hug cemented his place in history as one of the best T54 wheelchair racers of all-time.

Full of confidence after Rio, he went on to win the New York marathon, becoming the first man to compete the marathon Grand Slam in a calendar year with victories elsewhere in Boston, London and Chicago.

Prior to Rio, Hug’s finest performances arguably came at the 2013 World Championships in Lyon, France, where he won gold in the 400m, 1,500m, 5,000m, 10,000m and marathon events. Before this he had 10,000m world titles in 2006 and 2011.

Hug follows in the tracks of other great Swiss wheelchair racers such as Franz Nietlispach and Heinz Frei. To-date he has won eight Paralympic, 16 world and four European medals. In addition he stills holds the 800m, 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m world records that he set in 2010.