Claire Lomas Paralyzed British woman who completed the marathon Date of Birth: 28.04.1980 Country: Great Britain

Biography of Claire Lomas

Claire Lomas, the paralyzed British woman who completed the London Marathon with the help of a bionic suit, has been hailed as the most inspiring woman in England. The famous London Marathon route is challenging even for able-bodied individuals, but Claire managed to conquer the 42-kilometer distance despite being paralyzed from the waist down. Born in 1980 in Leicestershire, United Kingdom, Claire was an active equestrian athlete until a fall during the Osberton Horse Trials in Nottinghamshire in May 2007 changed her life forever. The fall resulted in broken ribs, punctured lungs, and a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed.

While receiving medical treatment at the Sheffield Northern General Hospital, Claire faced the harsh reality that she may never walk again. Initially, she fell into despair, grieving over the loss of her mobility and the belief that she would never get married or have children. However, as time passed, her rehabilitation progressed better than expected, and she found the strength to reassess her situation and find something positive within it.

Through an online dating site, Claire met her future husband, Dan, and in March 2011, they welcomed their daughter, Maisie. Gradually, Claire began to lead a more active life, participating in cycling and eventually trying out a special bionic suit for mobility. Initially terrified by the exoskeleton, Claire persevered through training and managed to move with the assistance of the suit. However, in her everyday life, she still relies on a wheelchair for mobility.

In 2012, Claire gained international attention when she participated in the London Marathon. Wearing her unique suit and using crutches, she became one of the thousands of participants in this prestigious sporting event. It took her 17 days to complete the race, dividing the distance into manageable sections with the support of her devoted husband, Dan. Despite not meeting the marathon's time limit to receive an official participant's medal, Claire was touched when 14 other participants gifted her their medals as a sign of respect and admiration for her indomitable spirit and determination.

Claire continued to make appearances at various sporting events in England, including participating in the Olympic Torch Relay. Her photographs also made their way into a sports calendar. In April and May 2013, she once again made headlines by cycling 400 miles to raise awareness for issues faced by people in wheelchairs. Today, Claire Lomas is a well-known motivational speaker and actively works in the field of charity, particularly in the rehabilitation of individuals with spinal cord injuries. Reflecting on her journey, she acknowledges that she wasted valuable time being despondent after her injury and could have done more good for others if she had realized earlier that her life was not over with paralysis.

Nevertheless, Claire now lives a fulfilling life with her loving husband, adorable daughter, and a passion for sports. She is dedicated to helping those in need and is committed to making a positive impact in the lives of others.