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Finish Line
Runner with muscle wasting disease finishes marathon after 20 hours
He said he completed the marathon – his fourth – to show that love is stronger than death.
FINISHING A MARATHON is an achievement for any person, but for Venezualan athlete Maickel Melamed, finishing this year’s Boston Marathon was a bit more special.
The runner finished the marathon today, 20 hours after he set out. The 39-year-old Venezuelan, who has a form of muscular dystrophy that severely impairs his mobility, crossed the finish line around 5am local time.
Melamed and his team of volunteers endured torrential downpours, thunderstorms, biting wind and cold for the last few miles. They were greeted at the finish line by dozens of supporters.
Melamed said he completed the marathon — his fourth — to show that love is stronger than death.
He praised Boston for embracing his efforts. Boston mayor Marty Walsh called Melamed’s story “truly one of inspiration.”
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