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Boston Marathon's First Wheelchair Champion Bob Hall Dies at 74

4/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

Bob Hall, Boston Marathon's first wheelchair champion, died at 74, as announced by the Boston Athletic Association.
Hall was a polio survivor from Belmont, Massachusetts, and the first officially recognized wheelchair athlete to race in 1975, finishing 2:58:00.
He won Boston Marathon twice.
He advanced wheelchair racing technology through Hall's Wheels and mentored athletes, influencing over 1,900 racers.
This year’s marathon on April 20 will feature 50 more wheelchair competitors.

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Story summary

Bob Hall, Boston Marathon's first wheelchair champion, died at 74, as announced by the Boston Athletic Association.
Hall was a polio survivor from Belmont, Massachusetts, and the first officially recognized wheelchair athlete to race in 1975, finishing 2:58:00.
He won Boston Marathon twice.
He advanced wheelchair racing technology through Hall's Wheels and mentored athletes, influencing over 1,900 racers.
This year’s marathon on April 20 will feature 50 more wheelchair competitors.