Gabby Logan revealed that the London Marathon faced a delay. The BBC presenter shared the update live on the BBC. Logan was speaking alongside Paula Radcliffe and Tanni Grey-Thompson.
Rainbow-Cooper’s Puncture Causes Disruption
Logan explained that British wheelchair racer Eden Rainbow-Cooper suffered an untimely puncture. The 24-year-old had a tyre puncture shortly before the race was due to get underway. Logan said: “We’re just hearing, I was going to talk to you about the elite wheelchair racers, Rainbow-Cooper has got a puncture, and this might delay the start of the race.”
The women’s wheelchair race went ahead without Rainbow-Cooper shortly after the update. However, the 24-year-old was able to start just minutes later. It was a blow to her preparations.
Rainbow-Cooper’s Recent Success
The British athlete has enjoyed a largely successful build-up to the London Marathon. She earned a second win at the Boston Marathon last month. Eden Rainbow-Cooper crossed the line with an unofficial time of 1:30:51 in the women’s wheelchair race. She beat runner-up Catherine Debrunner by over two minutes.
Speaking after her first win in Boston in 2024, she said: “It really took everything to get that win.
“It was such a mentally tough challenge. Pushing a marathon on your own is so difficult.
- She only started [the marathon] two years ago.
- She has put absolutely everything into it.
- She really can’t believe this.
“I just had my head down for the whole race and was just focusing on my own race.
“I had absolutely nothing left at the end, but the crowd carried me through.”
She added, on being the first British woman to win an elite race in Boston: “I am just so proud to be able to represent my country and give my absolute best.”
Rainbow-Cooper’s Previous Achievements
Rainbow-Cooper clinched a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games’ marathon T54 event in 2022. She also made her Paralympic debut in 2024. She competed in the 1500m, 5000m and marathon in the T54 classification.
While she was unable to finish the 5000m or the marathon, she secured seventh place in the 1500m. She also won the women’s wheelchair race in the Great North Run in 2022.