Marcel Hug facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Marcel Hug

Hug after winning at the 2025 Boston Marathon
Personal information
Birth name	Marcel Eric Hug
Nickname(s)	The Silver Bullet
Born	(1986-01-16) 16 January 1986 (age 40) Pfyn, Thurgau, Switzerland
Years active	2005–present
Sport
Disability	Spinal cord injuries
Disability class	T54
Club	RC Zentralschweiz RC Thurgau
Turned pro	2010
Coached by	Paul Odermatt
Achievements and titles
Paralympic finals	2004 2008 2012 2016
Medal record Men's para athletics Representing  Switzerland Event 1st 2nd 3rd Paralympic Games 7 6 3 World Championships 13 9 1 European Championships 6 0 1 Paralympic Games Gold 2020 Tokyo Marathon T54 Gold 2020 Tokyo 800 m T54 Gold 2020 Tokyo 1500 m T54 Gold 2020 Tokyo 5000 m T54 Gold 2016 Rio Marathon T54 Gold 2016 Rio 800 m T54 Gold 2024 Paris Marathon T54 Silver 2016 Rio 1500 m T54 Silver 2016 Rio 5000 m T54 Silver 2012 London 800 m T54 Silver 2012 London Marathon T54 Silver 2024 Paris 1500 m T54 Silver 2024 Paris 5000 m T54 Bronze 2004 Athens 800 m T54 Bronze 2004 Athens 1500 m T54 Bronze 2024 Paris 800 m T54 World Championships Gold 2006 Assen 10000 m T54 Gold 2011 Christchurch 10000 m T54 Gold 2013 Lyon 400 m T54 Gold 2013 Lyon 1500 m T54 Gold 2013 Lyon 5000 m T54 Gold 2013 Lyon 10000 m T54 Gold 2013 Lyon Marathon T54 Gold 2017 London 800 m T54 Gold 2017 London 1500 m T54 Gold 2023 Paris 800 m T54 Gold 2023 Paris 1500 m T54 Gold 2023 Paris 5000 m T54 Gold 2025 New Delhi 5000 m T54 Silver 2006 Assen 400 m T54 Silver 2006 Assen 800 m T54 Silver 2006 Assen 5000 m T54 Silver 2011 Christchurch 400 m T54 Silver 2011 Christchurch 800 m T54 Silver 2011 Christchurch 1500 m T54 Silver 2011 Christchurch 5000 m T54 Silver 2013 Lyon 800 m T54 Silver 2015 Doha 5000 m T54 Bronze 2015 Doha 800 m T54 European Championships Gold 2014 Swansea 800 m T54 Gold 2014 Swansea 1500 m T54 Gold 2014 Swansea 5000 m T54 Gold 2018 Berlin 800 m T54 Gold 2018 Berlin 1500 m T54 Gold 2018 Berlin 5000 m T54 Bronze 2014 Swansea 400 m T54

Marcel Eric Hug (born January 16, 1986) is an amazing Paralympic athlete from Switzerland. He competes in wheelchair racing events in the T54 category. Marcel is often called 'The Silver Bullet' because of his speed. He has taken part in many Summer Paralympic Games for Switzerland. He won his first two bronze medals at the Athens Games in 2004.

Marcel Hug is a true champion. In 2010, he set four new world records in just four days! At the 2011 World Championships, he won a gold medal in the 10,000 meters. He also earned four silver medals there. He often competed against his rival, David Weir. This friendly competition continued at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London. There, Marcel won two silver medals in the 800m race and the marathon.

At the 2013 World Championships, Marcel was outstanding. He won five gold medals and one silver. During the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio, he showed incredible skill. He won two gold medals in the 800m and marathon races. He also earned two silver medals in the 1500m and 5000m events.

Marcel is also a top marathon racer. He has set course records in famous marathons like Boston, Chicago, New York, and London. He has won the men's elite wheelchair event many times. These wins include the Berlin Marathon (2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), New York City Marathon (2013, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025), London Marathon (2014, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), Chicago Marathon (2016, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), Tokyo Marathon (2019, 2021, 2023, 2026), Boston Marathon (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026) and Sydney Marathon (2025).

Marcel Hug's Amazing Journey

How Marcel Started Racing

Marcel Hug was born in 1986 in a town called Pfyn in Switzerland. He grew up on a farm with his three older brothers. Marcel was born with spina bifida, a condition that affects the spinal cord. This meant he used a wheelchair.

When he was young, Marcel met Franz Nietlispach, a famous Swiss wheelchair racer. Franz became Marcel's hero and inspired him to try athletics. When Marcel was ten, a sports teacher gave him an old racing wheelchair. This was the start of his racing career!

Marcel competed in his first race that year, a 3 km youth race. He won! This victory made him want to do more wheelchair athletics. He joined the Swiss Paraplegic Centre in Nottwil. There, he met his coach, Paul Odermatt, who helped him train.

Becoming an Elite Athlete

Over the next few years, Marcel grew from a young athlete into a top racer. He started competing in Switzerland and other countries. In 2001, he joined the Wheelchair Sport Switzerland team. He also went to a special sports school in Kreuzlingen. Being the only wheelchair athlete there was very important for him.

Marcel also understood the importance of education. In 2002, he attended a school for employment and further education. He knew that learning outside of sports would be helpful later in life.

Marcel's First Paralympic Games

Marcel Hug first competed internationally at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens. He was not yet part of the national team. He raced in two relay events, but Switzerland did not reach the finals.

As an individual, Marcel competed in four races. He made it to the finals in all of them. He did not win medals in the 400m and 5000m races. However, he won two bronze medals in the 800m and 1500m events! After the Games, he was named "Newcomer of the Year 2004." The next year, he officially joined the Swiss national team.

World Championships and a New Rival

In 2006, Marcel competed at the 2006 IPC Athletics World Championships in the Netherlands. He won his first big international gold medal in the 10,000m race. He also earned three silver medals in the 400m, 800m, and 5,000m.

In the 400m race, he lost to British racer David Weir. This started an exciting rivalry between the two athletes. They would compete against each other in many races for years to come.

Ups and Downs in Beijing and New Records

Marcel went to Beijing for the 2008 Summer Paralympics. He competed in four track events and the marathon. He later said these Games were a bit disappointing. He did not win any medals and had some tough races.

But Marcel's luck changed over the next two years. In June 2010, he competed in a race meet in Switzerland. There, he set amazing new world records in four T54 category events: the 800m, 1,500m, 5,000m, and 10,000m.

The Silver Bullet and London 2012

Marcel's next big competition was the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championship in New Zealand. He entered eight events! He was disqualified from the shorter sprint races. But in the 400m, he won a silver medal.

In the 800m, 1,500m, and 5,000m races, Marcel faced David Weir again. David Weir was in top form, preparing for the 2012 Paralympics in his home city of London. Marcel earned silver medals behind Weir in all three races. Marcel did win a gold medal in the 10,000m. During these championships, he earned his nickname, 'The Silver Bullet'. This was because of the shiny silver helmet he always wore when racing.

In 2011, Marcel also won his first major city marathon, the 2011 Berlin Marathon.

Hug, in his trademark silver helmet challenges David Weir at the 2013 London Marathon

The 2011 World Championships set the stage for the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London. Marcel entered five events and reached the finals in all of them. He finished fifth in the 400m. In the 800m, he won a silver medal, again finishing behind David Weir. He placed fourth in both the 1,500m and 5,000m races.

The marathon was the final race of the Paralympics. It was incredibly close! Only one second separated David Weir (gold), Marcel Hug (silver), and Australia's Kurt Fearnley (bronze). Marcel finished 2012 by winning the 2012 Berlin Marathon again.

Dominating the World Championships

In 2013, David Weir decided not to compete at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon. This gave Marcel a great chance to shine. He took full advantage and dominated the T54 track events. He entered six events and won gold in five of them! These included the 400m, 1,500m, 5,000m, 10,000m, and the Marathon.

The only person to beat him was Kim Gyu-Dae from South Korea. Kim pushed Marcel into the silver medal position in the 800m race. In November 2013, Marcel competed in his fourth New York City Marathon. In another close race, he beat South Africa's Ernst Van Dyk to win the title.

Marathon Success Continues

On April 13, 2014, Marcel won the Paris Marathon. A week later, he entered the 2014 London Marathon. He beat his long-time rival Weir to win the men's wheelchair title. This was Marcel's first London Marathon win after finishing second three times before.

After finishing fourth in his previous two attempts, Marcel won the 2015 Boston Marathon on April 20, 2015. He beat ten-time winner Ernst Van Dyk by more than six minutes! Later that year, Marcel competed in the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships. Many thought the medals would be between Hug and Weir. However, Thailand's Rawat Tana won gold in both the 1500m and 5000m. Marcel finished fifth in the 1500m but won a silver in the 5000m. He also earned a bronze medal in the 800m.

In 2016, Marcel won two major city marathons in just one week. On April 18, he won his second Boston Marathon. Six days later, he won his second London Marathon victory.

Marcel Hug near halfway point of the Boston Marathon in 2018.

Rio Paralympics and More Marathon Wins

In 2016, Marcel qualified for his fourth 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. He competed in four events and won medals in all of them! He earned two silver medals in the 1500m and 5000m races. He also won his first Paralympic gold medals, one in the 800m and another in the men's T54 marathon on the last day.

After Rio, Marcel continued to race in marathons around the world. In October, he won his first Chicago Marathon, beating Kurt Fearnley in a very close finish. In November, he won his second New York City Marathon, again in a photo finish against Kurt Fearnley.

Recent Achievements

Marcel Hug continued his winning streak. In October 2022, he won the 2022 London Marathon. He finished just two seconds ahead of American competitor Daniel Romanchuk. The following year, Marcel returned for his fourth Chicago Marathon. He set a new personal record with an amazing time of 1:22:37.

In April 2025, Marcel Hug won the Boston Marathon for the eighth time. He also won the 2025 Berlin Marathon, 2025 New York City Marathon, 2025 London Marathon, 2025 Chicago Marathon, and 2025 Sydney Marathon. In 2026, he won the 2026 Tokyo Marathon and the 2026 Boston Marathon. Marcel Hug continues to be one of the most successful wheelchair racers in the world!

See also

In Spanish: Marcel Hug para niños