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Paralympian runner Elena Congost disqualified yards from finish line after letting go of guide’s rope
By Jenna Lemoncelli,
10 hours ago
Paralympic marathon runner Elena Congost, who is visually impaired, was disqualified just 10 yards from the finish line on Sunday in the final day of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, losing a bronze medal in the process.
The Spanish track and field athlete, born with a degenerative vision impairment, briefly let go of the rope that connected her with her guide-runner, Mia Carol Bruguera, who stumbled due to cramping near the finish line.
Runners in the T12 category for athletes with visual impairments must be tethered to their guide-runner for the entire race with their short rope, which includes two loops on each end.
Elena Congost of Spain with guide Mia Carol Bruguera celebrate after finishing in third place in the T12 marathon event at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, Sunday September 8, 2024. REUTERS
Congost, 36, briefly let go of the rope, as seen in a video highlighting the moment by ESports3, in an effort to help Bruguera.
The pair eventually got their footing and made it to the finish line, where the Spaniard came in third place but was disqualified due to the rule violation.
Congost was in tears when she learned the news and explained that she was not disqualified for cheating after the event.
Elena Congost of Spain with guide Mia Carol Bruguera during the T12 marathon event at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, Sunday September 8, 2024. REUTERS
Elena Congost of Spain with guide Mia Carol Bruguera during the T12 marathon event at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, Sunday September 8, 2024. AP
“I would like everyone to know that I have not been disqualified for cheating, but rather I have been disqualified for being human and for an instinct that comes to you when someone is falling and to help or support them,” Congost told Marca , a Spanish sports newspaper.
“I’m devastated, to be honest, because I had the medal. I’m super proud of everything I’ve done, and in the end they disqualify me because 10 meters from the finish line I let go of the rope for a second.”
Elena Congost of Spain with guide Mia Carol Bruguera after the T12 marathon event at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, Sunday September 8, 2024. REUTERS Elena Congost of Spain with guide Mia Carol Bruguera after the T12 marathon event at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, Sunday September 8, 2024. AP
On Sunday, Congost posted an Instagram photo of her smiling and waving at the finish line.
“Finding your peace in the most turbulent moment and remembering that what you really are does not expire. Without doubts or reproaches,” she wrote in Catalan , as transcribed by Google.
Congost won gold in the T12 marathon at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
So confusing. the guide who fell, and was running behind is named 'Mia' and the paralympic runner is the women named 'Elena'. Disqualified for letting go of the guide rope? Sounds dumb. Why not just be attached at the hip like a belay? The rules sound so made up and just made with barely any thought.
JACIE00
4h ago
Knows and acknowledged the rules, yet plays the victim!
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