Defending a Marathon title is one of the hardest things to do for any athlete. And if you’re a Paralympian, the challenge is even harder. However, despite its charm, things don’t always pan out according to the plans. For the 2023 Boston Marathon champion Susannah Scaroni, an unprecedented pothole has added to her woes and has shed some serious dark clouds on her 2024 Paralympic dreams. But for the gold medalist, it’s just another bump in the road.

Winning last year’s Boston Marathon despite a major setback during the race, Scaroni established herself as a bona fide athlete who can face hardships and still come out on top. Since 1970, the Boston Marathon’s wheelchair division has become one of the most iconic races in the world, but the 32-year-old had to opt out of being part of a lasting legacy.

2023 Boston Marathon winner has challenged norms since forever

According to a recent article by WCVB, a shoulder injury prompted Susannah Scaroni to back out of the 128th edition of the Boston Marathon. The news initially created a lot of speculation among fans, but the Boston Athletic Association cleared up the ambiguities only hours ago. After having to make a stop in the middle of the race to tighten her axle, Scaroni still went on to win the 2023 Marathon in April last year, making herself a name that commands reverence. But one missed chance will probably won’t get her down from the high pedestal she resides on, considering her long list of accolades.

Scaroni has represented the USA in three Summer Paralympics (2012, 2016, and 2020), and won a gold medal at the 5000m T54 event in Tokyo. Despite meeting a horrible spine injury in a car crash at just five years old, Scaroni didn’t let the misfortune bog her down and instead grabbed life by the scruff. She also has five Marathon first-place finishes under her belt, ensuring her name is a force to be reckoned with.

If that wasn’t all, she has also been preparing for the upcoming 2024 Paralympic Games.

Susannah Scaroni winning at life

Scaroni was one of the first US athletes across all sports to qualify for the 2024 Paris Games. After a harrowing car accident in 2021, her future was cloudy, but Scaroni bounced back without any signs of being slumped by her ordeals. Finishing third at the 2023 NYC Marathon, Susannah secured her spot in Team USA for the Paris Paralympics, and couldn’t be happier to bear the flag of the country for an impressive fourth time. “…what a blessing it is to be alive and to get to be on a start line next to all the people who I love being around“, said the Paralympian in an interview later.

Scaroni is a registered dietician and is part of the University of Illinois’ wheelchair athletics program. While fans are understandably upset at missing out on seeing her in action this April 15, the prospect of the athlete coming in with all guns blazing at the French capital will probably keep their hopes alive in the coming months.

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