These are athletes who "run" with their hands." athletes.

They lean over streamlined racing wheelchairs, bodies nearly parallel to the ground, like arrows on a bowstring, ready to launch.

They move forward by sheer will, measuring the 42.195-kilometer course with their hands,

and every inch gained is a challenge to and transcendence of their personal limits.

Wheelchair racing marathons are not ordinary events,

Athletes must use their core (waist and abdominal muscles) to power a specially designed racing wheelchair,

on the course to reach all-out speeds exceeding 35km/h in all-out racing.

This sport places extremely high demands on athletes' upper-body strength, core stability, and tactical coordination,

and is a benchmark event in para-sports that combines technical skill with spectator appeal.

In 2024 the Shanghai Marathon introduced a competitive wheelchair category for the first time,

Chinese athletes displayed a tenacious fighting spirit.

Men's champion Luo Xingchuan crossed the line with a time of 01:32:09 ,

Chen Xiaochun took the women's title with a time of 01:51:25 .

Their performances not only demonstrated the potential of Asian athletes in this field,

It also laid a solid foundation for attracting international elite athletes to this year's race.

2025The Shanghai Marathon wheelchair racing field has seen a major step up,

From around the world 12 international elite athletes will compete alongside 7 top Chinese athletes in the same race.

This intercontinental contest,

will turn the course into a platform for international exchange in wheelchair marathon racing.

On the men's side

Spanish athlete Rafael Botello Jimenez will showcase the technical qualities of European runners on the Shanghai Marathon course, bringing the racing styles of Asia, Europe and the Americas into collision on the Shanghai course. From the UK Michael John Patrick McCabe is experienced; his consistent performances and strong tactical execution make him one to watch.

The women's field was even more star-studded:

来自巴西的 Vanessa Cristina De Souza will bring the distinctive explosive power of South American athletes to the course; her outstanding endurance and sprinting ability have drawn considerable attention. 毛里求斯的 Marie Emmanuelle Anais Noemi Alphonse is a rising star in Africa's racing wheelchair ranks; her entry underscores the event's growing international influence. 澳大利亚选手 Christie Ann Dawes , representing Oceania, will enrich the field's regional diversity with her steady pace-control skills.

From last year's early promise from Chinese athletes

to this year's strong entry of international athletes

The wheelchair racing event has become a vivid embodiment of the Shanghai Marathon's commitment to diversity and inclusion

On November 30 , let's turn our attention to these heroes who measure the course with their arms

We look forward to them using speed and perseverance

to join forces to chase new heights on Shanghai's course!