‘Sad’ mistake costs wheelchair athlete huge cash prize

A Swiss wheelchair racer has won the Boston Marathon for the fifth time, but he’d be injecting a much greater sum of money into his bank if he hadn’t taken a wrong turn.

Marcel Hug was awarded $34,000 for taking victory in the gruelling long-distance event, but his wrong turn cost him an extra $68,000 in bonus money.

That’s because the 35-year-old’s mistake, which he believes added 20 seconds to his time, meant he fell seven seconds short of breaking his course record.

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If he had broken the 1:18.04 he had set in 2017, he would have triggered the greater sum of prize money, but he crossed the finish line in 1:18.11.

The mistake occurred when Hug, instead of turning right at an intersection, followed the lead vehicle straight through.

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“I would say it cost me 20 seconds and it should have been possible to get the record, for sure,” Hug said, according to The Guardian.

“It should not have happened. It’s my fault.

“I was just focusing on my performance. I didn’t think about that.

“It’s sad, but it happens.”

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