PROFESSIONAL

WHEELCHAIR ATHLETES – MEN
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE FIELDS
Ernst Van Dyk
Country: South Africa
Age: 43
Date of Birth: April 4, 1973
Residence: Paarl, South Africa
Personal Best: 1:18:27, Boston, MA, 2004
New York City Marathon History: 2015: 1st, 1:30:54;
2014: 2nd, 1:30:56; 2013: 2nd, 1:40:14; 2010: 8th, 1:47:10;
2009: 9th, 1:44:20; 2005: 1st, 1:31:11; 2004: 8th, 1:40:38;
2003: 2nd, 1:35:33; 2002: 2nd, 1:45:16
Career Highlights
2016 United Airlines NYC Half 1st 45:39
2015 TCS New York City Marathon 1st 1:30:54
2015 Virgin Money London Marathon 3rd 1:31:33
2014 Boston Marathon 1st 1:20:36
2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon 1st 1:30:37
Van Dyk is the defending TCS New York City Marathon champion, having beaten American
Josh George at the finish line last year by one second in 1:30:54, the second-fastest time in
event history. The win also clinched a victory for van Dyk in the Chicago-New York Challenge,
along with the series’ $10,000 grand prize. He also won the 2005 New York City
Marathon after finishing as the runner-up in 2002 and 2003.
Van Dyk has won the Boston Marathon a record 10 times, including six consecutive victories
from 2001 to 2006. He recorded a world-best time in the marathon in his 2004 victory,
finishing in 1:18:27; the record stood until Josh Cassidy of Canada broke it by two seconds
in 2012.
This spring, he won the United Airlines NYC Half in March, lowering his own event record by
three minutes to 45:39, and he finished second at the Boston Marathon in April in 1:24:06.
At this summer’s Paralympic Games, he competed in the marathon, finishing sixth, while
also winning a gold medal in the 60-kilometer handcycling road race, prevailing in a close
finish over former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi. He was second at the BMW Berlin
Marathon in September, finishing in 1:29:53, two seconds behind Marcel Hug of Switzerland.
In 2006, Van Dyk was honored at the Laureus World Sports Awards as the Sportsperson
of the Year with a Disability. He won the bronze medal in the marathon at the Beijing 2008
Paralympic Games and has represented South Africa in every Paralympics since 1992.
Together with his wife, Suzanne, he has two daughters, Lexi and Sunei. Van Dyk also owns
Enabled Sport, a para-sports equipment company.
MEDIA GUIDE
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