Sports · Running & Athletics · 7 hrs ago
Catherine Debrunner sets women’s wheelchair world record at Chicago Marathon
Catherine Debrunner of Switzerland set a women’s wheelchair marathon world record at the Chicago Marathon, finishing in 1:33:16.
She beat her previous record, set at the 2023 Berlin Marathon, by more than a minute.
The Chicago course is fast and flat, but its twists and turns can make wheelchair racing difficult.
Debrunner led from early in the race and won by nearly nine minutes.
American Tatyana McFadden finished second, with Swiss racer Manuela Schär third; both recorded 1:42:01.
Switzerland’s Marcel Hug also dominated the men’s wheelchair race, setting a course record of 1:21:34.
He has now won the Chicago race five years in a row and seven times overall.
The results reported do not say what Debrunner plans to race next.
Catherine Debrunner set a women’s wheelchair world record of 1:33:16 at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
The Swiss athlete beat her previous record, set at the 2023 Berlin Marathon, by more than a minute.
Debrunner won by nearly nine minutes, with Tatyana McFadden second and Manuela Schär third.
Debrunner said she had not expected to set a world record in Chicago.
- Who
- Catherine Debrunner, a Swiss wheelchair racer.
- What
- She set a women’s wheelchair world record of 1:33:16.
- When
- Sunday; the article was published on October 11, 2026.
- Where
- The Bank of America Chicago Marathon in Chicago.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
It feels very unreal; I can’t believe I made the world record here in Chicago.
I didn’t expect to set the world record here, and I’m speechless.
Debrunner set her previous marathon mark of 1:34:16.
Debrunner set a women’s wheelchair world record of 1:33:16.
- World-record time
- 1:33:16
- Previous record
- 1:34:16 at the 2023 Berlin Marathon
- Winning margin
- Nearly nine minutes
- Second place
- Tatyana McFadden, 1:42:01
- Third place
- Manuela Schär, 1:42:01







