Catherine Debrunner and Marcel Hug are poised to secure another Swiss double at the TCS London Marathon wheelchair races.
The pair were both victorious last year, but had differing outcomes on Monday in Boston. Hug roared to his eighth win on Boylston Street while Debrunner came second to Susannah Scaroni.
Debrunner paid tribute to her countryman ahead of Sunday’s race for inspiring her to enter the sport: “My first race was in Nottwil for the junior Swiss nationals and I remember I’d only had my chair for some months, not much, and I was so nervous to be on the Start Line.
“I was really lucky to have Marcel nearby; he grew up in a village very close to mine and he was training already with Paul [Odermatt] and I saw him and he was really important for me to go into the sport. I think if Marcel had done tennis, maybe we would now both be in tennis.
“I think it’s really important to have role models, like I had with Marcel and Manuela [Schar] in Switzerland, but also a community like we have in Nottwil, with the Swiss Paraplegic Centre or here in London with the organisers, who really give us this visibility.
“I remember when I went to my first marathon in felt like another sport. Suddenly there was so much media, so many spectators and I didn’t know that before. It is so amazing we can show our sport to more people.”
Hug can move to within two of his great rival David Weir’s tally of eight London titles if he can win on Sunday, and expects the warm conditions to play into his hands.
“I think it will be a lovely day,” he said. “It could even be a bit hotter for me! I prefer warmer races, but it will be a good day.
“I had a great race in Boston [on Monday] and I’m really looking forward to Sunday here in London.
“Honestly, I don’t think there’s any secret to my success; it’s just training, a lot of preparation, and of course I’m very lucky to have a lot of support. My body still feels good and I’m very excited for Sunday.
“The most important thing is to enjoy the atmosphere when you have the opportunity to race in London, because the crowds will give you lots of energy. I think once you’ve raced here, you’ll definitely come back as there’s so much passion and it gives you energy.”
