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Wheelchair Racing Pioneer Bob Hall Dies at 74
13 Apr
Summary
- Bob Hall, polio survivor, died at 74.
- He won the Boston Marathon twice in a wheelchair.
- Hall built racing chairs for future generations.
Bob Hall, a childhood polio survivor renowned as the father of wheelchair racing, has passed away at 74. His legacy is cemented by his two Boston Marathon victories and subsequent dedication to crafting racing chairs for aspiring athletes.
In 1975, Hall successfully petitioned to compete in the Boston Marathon, completing the course in under three hours. He returned in 1977 to win the National Wheelchair Championship, an event that signaled growing acceptance.
Hall's advocacy extended to legal battles, including a 1978 lawsuit to ensure wheelchair inclusion in the New York Marathon, a fight that saw results decades later.
Many elite wheelchair racers, including Tatyana McFadden and Marcel Hug, credit Hall's bravery and efforts for their ability to compete today.
