Let’s rewind and revisit the buzz at the New York Marathon, where Matt Choi—a social media influencer, ex-Division 1 football player from Monmouth University, and personal trainer—absolutely crushed the race, finishing in an impressive 2:57:15. But just as the celebrations were kicking off, things took a sharp turn. Turns out, Choi’s choice of race-day support didn’t sit well with some runners. Why? He had two e-motorbikes trailing him for filming, weaving through the already-crowded course on rented Citi Bikes. The videos of the bike dodging runners went viral, sparking outrage on social media. Reddit even had a field day, with one user calling Choi “bad for the sport.”

The fallout was pretty intense. Complaints poured into the New York Road Runners, the group behind the marathon, and they didn’t hold back. Choi got the ultimate penalty—disqualified from the 2024 NYC Marathon results and banned from every future NYC race. Their statement, issued on November 4, explained it all: Choi had “ran with the assistance of two unauthorized people riding the course on electric bicycles, obstructing runners.” Ouch. Despite all the drama and backlash, though, Choi has now looked back on the event, sharing a heartfelt tribute that started as a high but ended on a rough note.

A few days ago, Matt Choi brought a wave of nostalgia to Instagram with a reel celebrating his journey through the New York Marathon over the years, from 2022 to 2024. His caption was simple yet deeply heartfelt: “The Best Day in NYC.” The video wasn’t just a montage of races; it was a love letter to the event and the city itself.

Choi didn’t hold back his admiration, calling the marathon the “best single day of the entire year to be a New Yorker.” He highlighted the extraordinary vibe, explaining, “Think about this—70,000 people from all over the world come to New York City to experience New York City.” And that’s not all—“millions of people, 2 million+ from New York City, flood the streets to cheer on 70,000 strangers, many of which aren’t even from our country,” he added. For Choi, the marathon isn’t just a race; it’s a day when the city’s vibrant energy unites people from all walks of life, turning the Big Apple into the world’s ultimate stage of inspiration and connection.

This year, New York City set a world record for the largest marathon ever, with 55,646 athletes completing the iconic five-borough race on November 3. Among them was Matt Choi, who clocked a remarkable 2:57:15. But Choi’s marathon journey has been anything but smooth, with controversies tagging along like uninvited guests. The first storm brewed during January’s Houston Marathon when Derek Murphy of Marathon Investigation noticed Choi’s name missing from the results despite his impressive 2:59:35 finish. It turned out Choi had run with a friend’s bib, a case of “bib mule,” helping secure a Boston Marathon spot.

Choi later apologized, admitting he forgot to sign up and borrowed his injured friend’s bib. Yet, by February, trouble followed him to the Austin Marathon, where a two-person camera crew on e-bikes disrupted runners to capture Choi in action. Fellow racers were outraged, calling it a “media-circus-posse” that “totally ruined the race experience.” Though the New York Marathon ban was a harsh blow, Choi’s story reflects his marathon highs and lows—and he’s not one to shy away from owning his part in the drama as he has owned up to this one too.

NYC Marathon ban leads to Matt Choi apologizing!

When the controversy hit, Matt Choi didn’t attempt to dodge responsibility. Instead, he owned up to his mistake with unflinching honesty. In an Instagram video, Choi admitted that asking his videographers to follow him with e-bikes during the marathon was a reckless decision. He even called himself “selfish” for creating chaos that endangered other runners in the tightly packed lanes. Reflecting on the gravity of his actions, he acknowledged the potential harm caused and offered no excuses for the disruption.

In the video, Choi’s words carried the weight of regret: “We endangered other runners, we impacted people going for [their personal best times and] we blocked people from getting water… With the New York City marathon being about everyone else and the community, I made it about myself. And for anyone I impacted, I’m sorry.”

But amidst the backlash, a silver lining emerged—support from fans who admired his humility. One follower remarked, “There’s growth in every lesson learned,” while another applauded his accountability, saying, “I respect the accountability here. Life goes on.” Choi’s heartfelt apology struck a chord, proving that even missteps can lead to redemption when handled with grace.