Catherine Debrunner breaks wheelchair marathon world record in Chicago
Swiss Paralympian Catherine Debrunner set a new women's T54 wheelchair marathon world record of 1:33:16 at the 2026 Chicago Marathon, beating her previous mark by a full minute.
Catherine Debrunner set a new women's wheelchair marathon T54 world record with her victory in Chicago. The Swiss Paralympic champion finished the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 11, 2026, in a time of 1:33:16, shaving a full minute off her own previous world record.
Debrunner's performance highlighted a day of Swiss dominance. Her compatriot Marcel Hug won the men's wheelchair race, setting a new course record of 1:21:34 for his seventh Chicago Marathon title.
Race context and competition
Debrunner's winning margin was nearly nine minutes. She finished well ahead of second-place Tatyana McFadden, a nine-time Chicago champion, who clocked 1:42:01. Manuela Schär finished close behind McFadden in a sprint to the line.
The men's wheelchair race also featured a deep field behind the record-setting Hug. The battle for the podium was tight.
| Finisher | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Marcel Hug (1st) | Switzerland | 1:21:34 |
| Lito Anker (2nd) | Netherlands | 1:30:11 |
| David Weir (3rd) | Great Britain | 1:30:11 |
| Aaron Pike (Top 10) | United States | 1:30:16 |
| JohnBoy Smith (Top 10) | Great Britain | 1:32:24 |
| Josh Cassidy (11th) | Canada | 1:36:14 |
Athlete background and significance
The win adds to Debrunner's status as a multi-event world record holder. She now holds the world record in all nine women's T53/T54 class track and road events, which include the 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, and marathon. Her previous marathon world record of 1:34:16 was set at the 2023 Berlin Marathon.
This Chicago victory was her fourth Abbott World Marathon Majors win of the season, following successes in Tokyo, London, and Berlin. It was also her second win on the Chicago course, having first triumphed there in 2024. Defending champion Susannah Scaroni did not race in 2026, having welcomed her first child.
Marcel Hug, a fellow Swiss Paralympic champion, reinforced his own legendary status. He is the marathon world record holder with a time of 1:17:47 set in Japan in 2021, and his Chicago win marked his fifth consecutive victory at the event.
Reaction and support
Debrunner expressed disbelief at her achievement. "It feels very unreal; I can’t believe I made the world record here in Chicago," she said. She praised the great weather and the crowd, stating she had not expected to set the record.
Her preparation was supported by Honda, which has provided her with racing wheelchairs and technological support since 2023. The company, which has been developing racing wheelchairs since 2000, announced her achievement two days after the race. Honda's activities aim to contribute to the recognition of wheelchair athletics and the advancement of parasports.
Debrunner expressed gratitude for this partnership. She also indicated her focus was already shifting to future competitions.
Broader event results
The Chicago Marathon featured elite non-Para victories alongside the wheelchair races. Amos Kipruto of Kenya won the men's marathon in 2:01:08. Hawi Feysa of Ethiopia defended her women's title, winning in a new personal best of 2:13:33. A quintet of Canadian men lined up in the elite running field.
Debrunner's record-breaking run was the standout performance of the day. She is already looking forward to the next challenge.
