This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/female-cancer-survivor-sets-marathon-record-10288434.html
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Female cancer survivor sets marathon record aged 92 | Female cancer survivor sets marathon record aged 92 |
(7 months later) | |
A 92-year-old woman who survived cancer has become the oldest woman to finish a marathon. | A 92-year-old woman who survived cancer has become the oldest woman to finish a marathon. |
Harriette Thompson of Charlotte, North Carolina, completed San Diego's Rock'n'Roll Marathon on Sunday, clocking in at little more than seven hours and 24 minutes. | Harriette Thompson of Charlotte, North Carolina, completed San Diego's Rock'n'Roll Marathon on Sunday, clocking in at little more than seven hours and 24 minutes. |
She crossed the finishing line accompanied by her son Brenny, 56, to be greeted by a throng of supporters. | She crossed the finishing line accompanied by her son Brenny, 56, to be greeted by a throng of supporters. |
"I'm fine," Thompson said. "They're really pampering me here." | |
She ran and completed the marathon the previous year too, aged 91. In fact, Sunday's event was her 16th marathon since she took up marathon running aged 70. | She ran and completed the marathon the previous year too, aged 91. In fact, Sunday's event was her 16th marathon since she took up marathon running aged 70. |
But she admitted Sunday's race had been particularly tough. | But she admitted Sunday's race had been particularly tough. |
"It's always harder but this year has been a bad year for me," she said. | "It's always harder but this year has been a bad year for me," she said. |
Her husband died in January following a lingering illness and Thompson herself battled a staph infection in one of her legs. | |
"I couldn't train very well because my husband was very ill and I had to be with him for some time and then when he died in January I had some treatments on my leg," she said. | "I couldn't train very well because my husband was very ill and I had to be with him for some time and then when he died in January I had some treatments on my leg," she said. |
"I was just really thrilled that I could finish today." | "I was just really thrilled that I could finish today." |
The oldest woman to previously complete a marathon was Gladys Burrill, who was 92 years and 19 days old when she finished the 2010 Honolulu Marathon. | |
According to the race organisers, Thompson is 92 years and 65 days old at the time of the race. | According to the race organisers, Thompson is 92 years and 65 days old at the time of the race. |
Thompson, who survived three bouts of oral cancer, runs to raise money to fight leukaemia and lymphoma and believes the competition has helped keep her healthy. | Thompson, who survived three bouts of oral cancer, runs to raise money to fight leukaemia and lymphoma and believes the competition has helped keep her healthy. |
"I don't think I'd be living today if I didn't do this running," she said. "I'm helping them and they're kind of helping me." | "I don't think I'd be living today if I didn't do this running," she said. "I'm helping them and they're kind of helping me." |
(Additional reporting by agencies) | (Additional reporting by agencies) |
Previous version
1
Next version