In this episode, Novie Craven sits down with Thomas Cantara, a New Hampshire Special Olympics athlete who has completed all six World Marathon Majors: Boston, Berlin, Chicago, London, New York City and Tokyo. In April 2024, Thomas made history by… T20 intellectual disability department at the Boston Marathon with a time of 2:35:23which marks a milestone in the professional Para Athletics division.
Thomas describes Boston as “one of those marathons where I just had fun,” but his journey is anything but ordinary. His achievements reflect the growing inclusivity of professional sports and the power of perseverance.
Joining the conversation is Mark Duggan, a decorated collegiate athlete and former CEO of Nike Bauer Hockey. As a board member for Special Olympics New Hampshire, Mark has been a driving force in expanding access to elite competition for athletes with intellectual disabilityand a key supporter of Thomas’ marathon journey.
In this episode
- Thomas’ path from Keene, New Hampshire, to the global marathon stage
- His experience winning Boston and racing in Berlin
- The role of Special Olympic Games Unified Sports® in building lifelong friendships
- Mark’s reflections on sport as a tool for inclusivity
- What inclusion means to them, and how we can all help build a more inclusive world
Six majors, one message: more than a marathon
Special Olympics New Hampshire athlete Thomas Cantara shares his journey completing all six World Marathon Majors and making history at the Boston Marathon. Board member Mark Duggan joins to talk about increasing access to elite competition and the power of inclusion through sports.
#majors #message #marathon