First person to complete a marathon in a robotic walking device

Claire Lomas (UK), who was paralysed from the waist down in a horse riding accident in 2007, took part in the 2012 Virgin London Marathon using a ReWalk lower body robotic exoskeleton created by Argo Medical Technologies (Israel). Claire took 16 days to complete the marathon, but did not appear on the official list of people who had completed it, nor did she receive a medal, as competitors must complete the course on the same day to qualify under the current rules. However, as she approached the finishing line on 8 May 2012, she was escorted by the Household Cavalry and presented with the Virgin Trophy for endurance by Holly Branson (UK). Around a dozen runners donated their own medals to Claire after she completed the course.