The connection to the New York Marathon with Achilles International and Achilles New Zealand has its roots in a single extraordinary moment.

In 1976, Dick Traum became the first amputee to finish the TCS New York City Marathon with a prosthetic leg, burying the Achilles seed for seven years later.

In 1983 Dick founded the Achilles Track Club (which later became Achilles International) with the mission to enable people of all disabilities to participate in mainstream running events.

In 1993, John Riley, another above-knee amputee, along with his coach Peter Loft, both from Whangarei, completed the New York Marathon.

Inspired by their experience, they established Achilles Track Club New Zealand (Achilles NZ) in Auckland, with support from Craig Jessop, Myles Flynn, Gina Flynn, and Yvonne Loft.

This meant that right here in Aotearoa, athletes with disabilities, their guides and supporters would be able to step into the world of endurance sport with dedicated support.

Over the decades the organisation has grown in size and reputation. Achilles International now brings the largest field of athletes with disabilities to the New York City Marathon.

For us, while the New York Marathon represents the beginning of our sport, and is the pinnacle event of the year, it means more than that.

This provides an opportunity to connect with our Achilles Whanau globally while moving, an event to drag our focus forward, and push ourselves on one of the worlds grandest marathon stages.