Bob Hall, a childhood polio survivor who became known as the father of wheelchair racing after twice winning the Boston Marathon and then going on to build racing chairs for the generations of competitors that followed, has died. He was 74.The Boston Athletic Association said on Sunday that Hall's family confirmed his death after a long illness. In 1975, Hall convinced Boston Marathon organizers to let him into the race and was promised a finishers certificate like the one the runners got if he completed the 26.2-mile distance in under 3 hours. (In 1970, Vietnam War veteran Eugene Roberts, who had lost both of his legs in the war, needed more than six hours to finish.)Hall crossed the line in 2:58. It had nothing to do with, per se, the marathon, but it was about the inclusion, Hall said last year, when he served as the grand marshal in Boston on the 50th anniversary of his pioneering ride. It was that I was bringing people along.Hall returned to the Boston race in 1977, when it was designated as the site for the National Wheelchair Championship, and prevailed in a field of seven. As they crested Heartbreak Hill, eventual men's winner Bill Rodgers and fifth-place finisher Tom Fleming slowed to encourage him.The interaction was a sign that we were fully accepted as athletes, Hall said.Hall, who lost the use of both legs from childhood polio, sued in 1978 to have wheelchair racers admitted into the New York Marathon, a fight that wasnt settled until the race created mens and womens wheelchair divisions in 2000. Bob Hall is an incredible man, five-time Boston winner and eight-time Paralympic gold medalist Tatyana McFadden said last year. Im so thankful for him. And I think we all are, as wheelchair racers, because he really paved the way.Hall finished in the top three in Boston three other times, and remained active with the race. More than 1,900 wheelchair racers have followed him from Hopkinton to Boston; this years race on April 20 will include 50 more, along with 50 others in eight para divisions competing for more than $300,000 in prize money.The BAA said that Hall taught how we can continue to ensure athletes of all abilities have competitive opportunities on the highest stage here in Boston.Bob designed innovative wheelchair equipment, raced with courage, and was proud to be a two-time Boston Marathon champion, the BAA said. He helped lead a technological change, transforming simple wheelchairs into racing chairs built for peak athletic performance. Bobs influence and effort five decades ago led to the global circuit of wheelchair racing today.Many of the competitors including McFadden and seven-time Boston winner Marcel Hug learned to race in chairs built by Hall. Because of him crossing that finish line, were able to race today. And its evolved so much since then, McFadden said last year. It was him. It was him being brave and saying, Im going to go out and do this because I believe that we should be able to race Boston Marathon just like everyone else. So he had the courage to do that.___AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports

Bob Hall, a childhood polio survivor who became known as the father of wheelchair racing after twice winning the Boston Marathon and then going on to build racing chairs for the generations of competitors that followed, has died. He was 74.The Boston Athletic Association said on Sunday that Hall's family confirmed his death after a long illness. In 1975, Hall convinced Boston Marathon organizers to let him into the race and was promised a finishers certificate like the one the runners got if he completed the 26.2-mile distance in under 3 hours. (In 1970, Vietnam War veteran Eugene Roberts, who had lost both of his legs in the war, needed more than six hours to finish.)Hall crossed the line in 2:58. It had nothing to do with, per se, the marathon, but it was about the inclusion, Hall said last year, when he served as the grand marshal in Boston on the 50th anniversary of his pioneering ride. It was that I was bringing people along.Hall returned to the Boston race in 1977, when it was designated as the site for the National Wheelchair Championship, and prevailed in a field of seven. As they crested Heartbreak Hill, eventual men's winner Bill Rodgers and fifth-place finisher Tom Fleming slowed to encourage him.The interaction was a sign that we were fully accepted as athletes, Hall said.Hall, who lost the use of both legs from childhood polio, sued in 1978 to have wheelchair racers admitted into the New York Marathon, a fight that wasnt settled until the race created mens and womens wheelchair divisions in 2000. Bob Hall is an incredible man, five-time Boston winner and eight-time Paralympic gold medalist Tatyana McFadden said last year. Im so thankful for him. And I think we all are, as wheelchair racers, because he really paved the way.Hall finished in the top three in Boston three other times, and remained active with the race. More than 1,900 wheelchair racers have followed him from Hopkinton to Boston; this years race on April 20 will include 50 more, along with 50 others in eight para divisions competing for more than $300,000 in prize money.The BAA said that Hall taught how we can continue to ensure athletes of all abilities have competitive opportunities on the highest stage here in Boston.Bob designed innovative wheelchair equipment, raced with courage, and was proud to be a two-time Boston Marathon champion, the BAA said. He helped lead a technological change, transforming simple wheelchairs into racing chairs built for peak athletic performance. Bobs influence and effort five decades ago led to the global circuit of wheelchair racing today.Many of the competitors including McFadden and seven-time Boston winner Marcel Hug learned to race in chairs built by Hall. Because of him crossing that finish line, were able to race today. And its evolved so much since then, McFadden said last year. It was him. It was him being brave and saying, Im going to go out and do this because I believe that we should be able to race Boston Marathon just like everyone else. So he had the courage to do that.___AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports

Rory McIlroy steamrolled to victory at The Masters to win a second Green Jacket in as many years, holding off the likes of Cameron Young, Justin Rose and Scottie Scheffler.It means the Northern Irishman has won back-to-back Masters titles; a feat only managed by Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods before him.It underlines McIlroy's status as one of the best golfers of all time, fending off a determined chasing pack in excruciatingly dramatic circumstances.McIlroy roared in victory, in similar scenes to 12 months ago when he finally completed the career Grand Slam.TRENDINGStoriesVideosYour SayThis time round, McIlroy was much more composed - though a double-bogey on the third hole saw many fans shudder over memories of yesteryear where he had thrown titles away in the past.But having seen a six-shot lead disappear on Saturday, the now-six-time major champion reasserted himself at Augusta to prevail in front of a loving crowd.More to follow...Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Rory McIlroy birdies the 12th and 13th holes to move to 13-under par and extend his lead in the final round of The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club.

Der VfL Bochum hat in der 2. Bundesliga gegen Eintracht Braunschweig gewonnen und sich so Luft zur Abstiegszone verschafft.[mehr]

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