Switzerland Manuela Schaer and Marcel Hug triumph at the London Marathon

Manuela Schaer and Marcel Hug made it another Swiss double in wheelchair races at the 41st edition of the London Marathon on Sunday (3 October) just a week after winning the Berlin Marathon.

Schaer, who won five medals at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games including two golds, triumphed at the London Marathon for the third time with a new course record of 1:39:52.

The 36-year-old Swiss star was followed by Germany’s Merle Menje (1:44:51), who defeated USA's four-time London Marathon champion Tatyana McFadden (1:44:51) in the battle for the second place.

Schaer, who finished second at last year's edition of the London Marathon, said: “I really felt the cold and rain last year and I wanted to come back and do the usual course. It wasn’t really a tactical race, my only plan was to get away as far as I could and I achieved that and felt very comfortable."

Next up for Schaer is the Boston Marathon on 11 October and the New York Marathon on 7 November.

Busy October for Hug

Marcel Hug will join compatriot Schaer in Boston just a day after competing at the Chicago Marathon (10 October).

The 35-year-old Swiss Silver Bullet seeks to continue his fine form from Berlin and London. Hug won in the British capital for the third time in his career with a new course record (1:26:27).

“It’s fantastic I have set the new course record, particularly now that I’m going into a busy period. I’m going home for two or three days before both Chicago and Boston, which I’m looking forward to,” said Hug who claimed four golds at Tokyo 2020, including one in the marathon.

USA’s Daniel Romanchuk finished second after crossing the finish line in 1:29:27. The 2019 London Marathon champion started having problems keeping up with Hug around the halfway mark of the race.

British legend David Weir, racing for the 22nd consecutive year, clocked 1:31:33.

2021 London Marathon - top five

Men’s wheelchair race
1-Marcel Hug (SUI) - 01:26:27
2-Daniel Romanchuk (USA) - 01:29:27
3-David Weir (GBR) – 01:31:33
4-Brent Lakatos (CAN) - 01:31:34
5-Aaron Pike (USA) – 01:31:36

Women’s wheelchair race
1-Manuela Schaer (SUI) - 01:39:52
2-Merle Menje (GER) - 01:44:51
3-Tatyana McFadden (USA) - 01:44:51
4-Nikita den Boer (NED) – 01:44:54
5-Aline Dos Santos Rocha (BRA) - 01:50:07

Complete results can be found on the London Marathon official website.