Madison de Rozario’s ‘Progression’ Seals Silver in Boston

National wheelchair track and road coach, Louise Sauvage OAM, described New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) athlete Madison de Rozario’s silver medal performance in the Boston Marathon as a great “progression” as she continues to familiarise herself with a new racing chair.

The 29-year-old, who won the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics Marathon T54 gold medal, finished five minutes behind the winner, American Susannah Scaroni. De Rozario’s silver adds to her two bronze medals from the 2019 and ’22 Boston Marathons.

Sauvage, who won the Boston Marathon on four occasions, said she was pleased with her charge’s performance, an effort which builds on her third placing at the Tokyo Marathon last March.

“It’s another progression in Madison using this chair,” said Sauvage. “It’s a hilly course, so it was a good opportunity to see that it rolled well. And another bonus was that she kept up with the other girls who have similar carbon chairs.

“It rained during the race, so it was quite wet and slippery – and it got very, very cold. There was also a heck of a lot of fog, so [the competitors] fought a lot of conditions.”

“Madison said she was happy with her race, the chair, and how she felt going into it.

“We’ll keep on track for London, and, after that, she’ll have three weeks in Australia before heading back overseas to Switzerland and the World Championships.

“She did very well, finishing the race in cold conditions. But her improvements, month to month, in regard to the chair is extremely encouraging. It takes six months to get used to one, so she’s halfway there.”

Daniel Lane, NSWIS