UK bionic woman becomes world’s first to complete marathon

May 09, 2012 |

London

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A paralysed British woman has become the first person in the world to complete a marathon in a bionic suit as she crossed the finishing line in London on Tuesday 16 days after the race began.

A tearful Claire Lomas said she was 'over the moon' as she completed the 42.2 kilometre course in her bionic ReWalk suit, which mimics the response that the wearer's joints would make if they were not paralysed.

Hundreds of people lined the streets and three mounted members of the Household Cavalry gave the 32-year-old a guard of honour as she finished the course on The Mall in central London, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Lomas is a former chiropractor who was left paralysed from the chest down following a horse-riding accident five years ago.

"There were times when I questioned whether I would make it when I was training. Once I started, I just took each day as it came and every step got me a step closer," shwas quoted, as saying.

Lomas walked about two miles a day, cheered on by her husband Dan and their 13-month-old daughter Maisie, and her parents.

Lomas will not appear in the official results and did not receive a medal when she finished as competitors have to complete the course on the day of the race to qualify for a medal.

But a dozen other runners in the race have given her their own medals in recognition of her achievement.

Lomas works as a jewellery designer,and has raised over 86,000 pounds for a charity which funds research to develop treatments for paralysis caused by a broken back or neck.

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