Rick Hoyt, a regular runner in the Boston Marathon, died on Monday at the age of 61. Over a thousand road races were entered by Mr. Hoyt, who finished them all while being pushed by his father in a wheelchair.
His family was informed of his loss, and they stated that he had died as a result of issues with his respiratory system. Unfortunately, the timing of this announcement is sad, as Hoyt’s father, Dick Hoyt, passed away in March 2021 at the age of 80.
Rick Hoyt said to The New York Times in 2009 that he and his father have a special bond that forms during their runs together.
The Hoyt team ran the Boston Marathon every year from 1980 until 2014. 2013 saw the construction of a bronze statue in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments close to the race’s starting line.
Together, they completed over 1,100 competitions, including duathlons, which mix bicycling and running, triathlons, and marathons.
Dick Hoyt claimed in his book, “Devoted: The Story of a Father’s Love for His Son,” that he ran for the benefit of his son Rick, who was unable to pursue his dream of becoming an athlete because of a lack of resources. He made it clear that he didn’t run for his personal amusement rather he was lending his physical prowess to his youngster.
On January 10, 1962, Richard Eugene Hoyt Jr. was born with cerebral palsy, which left him speechless and immobile. He started using a specifically created computer to help him communicate in 1972. His first words were a fervent “Go Bruins!” made possible through the computer.
Rick Hoyt participated in his first road race in 1977. This charity race was organized to raise money for a disabled lacrosse player. In order to show the athlete that, despite being a quadriplegic kid, he was still physically fit and capable of competing in the race, Hoyt asked to take part in this competition.
Dick Hoyt, who was 37 at the time of the incident, did not view himself as an endurance athlete and had no desire to complete a marathon. In spite of this, he consented to run in the race with his son. They eventually finished the five-mile race, although they came in second to last.
The Hoyts worked hard to post outstanding times in several races. Incredibly, they managed to finish the 1992 Marine Corps Marathon in 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 47 seconds. In addition, they managed to complete a full Ironman race—2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking, and 26.2 miles of running—in 13 hours, 43 minutes, and 37 seconds.