The Spanish marathoner disqualified from the Paris Paralympic Games to receive financial aid

Her story moved spectators at the Paris Paralympic Games: on September 8, Elena Congost crossed the finish line of the marathon reserved for visually impaired athletes (T12) supporting her guide, crippled by cramps. But the Spanish woman, third in the test, had been disqualified: in wanting to prevent her guide from falling, she had released the link that joined them, which is prohibited by the regulations. The bronze medal ultimately went to Japan’s Misato Michishita, who finished the race more than three minutes behind the Rio 2016 Paralympic champion.

In the absence of a medal, Elena Congost will receive financial aid from the Spanish Paralympic Committee, as indicated in a press release on Friday, November 8. This subsidy of 2,050 euros per month, intended for both the athlete and her guide – her coach will receive 900 euros – corresponds to the sum that would have been granted to her, each month, within the framework of a support plan for the country’s Paralympic athletes. . if I had gotten on the podium in Paris. The 37-year-old from Madrid will benefit from it until the approval of the next support plan, during the first months of 2025.

At the end of October, the request of the Spanish Paralympic Committee to award a second bronze medal to the runner – without taking away that of Misato Michishita -, alleging assistance to a person in danger, was rejected by the international para-athletics federation. The Spanish committee then reiterated its support for the athlete, who could resort to legal action.