Susannah Scaroni’s performance throughout 2022 was built entirely on consistency. Of the five races she took part in, she never placed lower than third and it was her explosive finish to the season, taking first place in both Chicago and New York City that ended up separating her from the field and crowning her the Abbott World Marathon Majors Women’s Wheelchair Series winner for the first time. Scaroni’s triumph ended Manuela Schär’s three-year reign on top.
Scaroni’s performances were all the more commendable when you consider that just a year ago, she faced an uncertain future in the sport after she was hit by a car as she made her way to training. When asked about the incident after her win in Chicago, she said “It truly gave me new perspective. I loved pushing hard and going as fast as I could, but now I am so happy to be alive. Everything is a celebration and an opportunity and that has translated into my career.”
That win in Chicago marked a passing of the torch moment as Scaroni outpaced nine-time champion Tatyana McFadden to be the first to cross the line in Grant Park. She set herself up for a race off against the defending champion Schär, knowing that anything less than a win for the Swiss racer would hand her the top prize.
Scaroni took the race by the scruff of the neck and powered to victory, her second consecutive win and her first AbbottWMM Series title, a truly remarkable performance from a truly remarkable athlete.
