33-Year-Old Runner With Down Syndrome Among First To Win Marathon — Celebrates With A Victory Dance At The Finish Line

Dec 15, 2023

A runner named Kayleigh Williamson, who was 33 years old in 2023, became one of the first women to ever complete the annual New York City Marathon. None of this would be possible without the help of her mother, Sandy Williamson, who accompanied her during the race.

According to an article published by People Magazine in November of that year, Kayleigh’s journey was over 26.2 miles and lasted over 10 hours and 9 minutes, and for her mom, it was truly memorable.

Sandy spoke with the publication to share the experience as she noted her daughter’s positive outlook throughout the race.

“Every time she heard music she stopped to dance. It was very emotional for her at the end, the last two miles,” she said.

Not everything was pure joy, as there were obstacles along the way because there were times when Kayleigh would get tired as “her muscles were sore,” and it bothered her.

Regardless, the sweet woman was determined and didn’t give up instantly.

Kayleigh also shared her thoughts about the marathon, and it appears that she had an amazing time as she said: “I am a diva… The whole race I was always fixing my hair. I did a victory dance at the finish line.”

Sandy further explained that it wasn’t her daughter’s first time competing in a marathon like this, as she also became one of the attendees of the Boston Marathon in the past. She also completed 21 miles of the Austin Marathon and 20 other half-marathons.

It all began in 2017. At the time, Sandy’s mom was unfortunately diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, so she wanted to change her lifestyle and be more active, so she started running.

At the time, Kayleigh also wanted to join her and do races.

It appears that Kayleigh wanted to do the marathons not only for the experience and enjoyment but also to pay tribute to her late grandmother, who passed away in 2021.

“On the back of her shirt it said, ‘Running in memory of my grandma, memories matter, Alzheimer’s awareness,’” Sandy added.

In a video posted by the official Instagram page of the New York City Marathon, Kayleigh could be seen finishing the race, where she became emotional after hours of running. She also gave a woman named Tina Muir a big hug upon completing the race.

Tina shared more of Kayleigh’s story in a GoFundMe page as she explained that Sandy was told her daughter would not walk before she turned five years old, but thanks to her determination and passion, she continued to inspire others.

In a separate interview with Runner’s World published in 2023, Tina said: “The energy Kayleigh provides to anyone lucky enough to be in her presence in that moment is unprecedented… Kayleigh is pure love. You can see that she impacts people every step of the way.” 

It appeared that Kayleigh indeed made a big impact on many people online as users commented on her popular video, which earned more than three million likes as of December 2023.

“🥹 im crying 🥹 well done well done well done !!!!!!” one wrote.

 “You did it! It was so inspiring to watch you finish. Sending love and hugs ❤️,” another one wrote.

“This just made my night! So inspiring! Thank you and congratulations!” one commented.

What do you think of Kayleigh’s journey to finish her hours-long marathon? Do you find her story inspiring? Let us know your thoughts, and make sure to pass this on to your friends and family.