‘Boston Marathon icon’ wheelchair user follows father to heaven

Rick Hoyt, a paraplegic who inspired countless people by running marathons with his wheelchair-pushing father, has died. He was 61 years old.

Hoyt followed in the footsteps of his father, who died two years ago, and passed away earlier in the day from respiratory complications, family members said, according to the Associated Press.

“Rick, along with his father Dick, were icons in the marathon and triathlon world for more than 40 years,” the family said in a tribute. “He inspired countless people with disabilities to believe in themselves, set goals, and achieve great things.”

Dick Hoyt, who competed in the race pushing a wheelchair with his son Rick in it, died in March 2021 at the age of 80.

Rick, who was paralyzed by cerebral 토토사이트 palsy, was better known as “Tim Hoyt” alongside his father.

In the 40 years between 1977 and 2016, Team Hoyt completed 1,130 events, including 72 marathons, 257 triathlons (including six Ironman), and 22 duathlons.

In the Boston Marathon alone, he finished 32 times, making him an icon of the event. Each April, the Boston Athletic Association, which organizes the race, awards the Rick and Dick Hoyt Award to a runner who demonstrates mental toughness.

A wave of tributes followed. “Rick Hoyt will always be remembered as an icon of the Boston Marathon,” the Boston Athletic Association said in a statement. “He was the embodiment of the Team Hoyt spirit of ‘Yes, you can,'” it added.